This is scientific synthesis at its best: an overview of just about everything we know about the “Sumerian world”, solid, up-to-date, well illustrated, covering all themes, while also balanced, nuanced and indicating the magnitude of the uncertainties and even gaps in our knowledge of this earliest human civilization. I didn't have time to read all the contributions, I went through many diagonally, but they all seem of the highest scientific level, albeit a bit too detailed at times. If you really want to know everything about the Sumerian world, this is an absolute must. Of course, keep in mind that new discoveries are constantly being made in this field and the insights regularly shift, as the contributors to this book also indicate. At the same time, there is a warning: the title gives the impression that the Sumerian world was a homogeneous whole (one people, one language, one culture), and in many other works this impression is sometimes reinforced but nothing could be further from the truth. Fortunately, this book also sets this right. More on this in my History-account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5004590028. ( )

A comprehensive and detailed series of articles on key aspects of "Sumerian" culture from c.3000-2000 BC. Recognises and addresses the social and cultural complexity of the third millennium in southern Mesopotamia, including linguistic, cultural and ethnic diversity. Highly recommended. ( )