The Ancient Near Eastern World

A mark of the best academic writers is their ability to distil large amounts of learning into chunks digestible for mere mortals - or in this case, younger readers. Professor Podany and Ms McGee have done precisely that for the fascinating ancient Middle East, whence came so many discoveries and ideas that survive from 5,000 years ago to modern times - the wheel, measurement of time in base 60 (seconds and minutes), writing, mathematics...and so the list goes on. I bought this book as an introduction for me and - hopefully - an inspiration for my children. This eminently readable book has yet to be submitted to the second test but has passed the first with flying colours, as I am now not only more knowledgeable but have more insight into the region, as well as being inspired to find out more. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in finding out more about an influential and formative period in our shared history.