Sumer: Cities of Eden

From 7000 to 3000 BC a transformation took place where a nomadic lifestyle developed into the first urban societies. Sumer: Cities of Eden gives a lively account of both this event and the adventurous archeologist, researchers that uncovered it. If you are interested in the genesis of city life, agriculture, writing and literature, architecture, taxes etc. this book gives a good introduction. Using beautiful photography of ancient city-cites, pottery, architecture and artefacts it draws a picture of early farming communities from the Ubaid period (6000-4000 BC) growing into cities, like Uruk (4000-3000 BC), were thousands of people lived and worked. This was possible because of surpluses generated by the agricultural exploitation of the fertile land between the Eufrat and Tigris (nowadays Iraq) This led to the first hierarchical structured society with distinct classes and a specialized workforce that formed the matrix for, and influenced every major civilization that would follow; from Babylonian, Persian, greek, roman, islamic to our own.

Time-Life is always a winner. This book is great for scholars and for the average person. I loved it.

Textbooks on the sumerians are often filled with with art and fail to communicate the tremendous contributions of these ancient people. This book provides an objective evaluation of the builders of mankind's first civilization. The reader is left wanting to learn more about the sumerians who were the first to develop writing, wheel, law, school, war, art, cities, ..., etc.