Early History of the Middle East: Part 2

The Cambridge Ancient History is a fantastic achievement. However, it began to be written 40 years ago, and it shows. The first few volumes (including this one) have been left far behind by new findings and modern scholarship, a situation that contrasts sharply with the volumes dealing with more "recent" times (particularly the Roman period), which were only just completed, contain state-of-the-art material and are far easier to read. The volumes dealing with the ancient Near East are badly in need of an update. Still, if you want an authoritative, broad (and dry) treatise that will point you in the right direction for further research, this is a good place to start. It would be unfair to demand richer narrative from a book dealing with a time when writing was still in the process being invented. However, the work does become overly tedious at times, particularly when discussing "remains" (i.e. barely recognizable foundations of buildings of ambiguous purpose). Field archaeologists may find it more palatable than armchair historians.

I read this one awhile back and I enjoyed it very much although it was very technical. The book is profusely illustrated with maps, building plans, and tables. Great book (but very expensive) for history buffs.