In ancient times, the civilizations that flourished where present day Iraq stands gave birth to some of humanity's most significant achievements, including the written word, the city, the legal system, public education, and more. This work reveals how archaeologists, geologists, geographers, and other scientists have pieced together an understanding of some of the most complex and accomplished civilizations in history. Ancient Mesopotamia: New Perspectives ranges from the region's cultural beginnings to its Persian "liberation," from simple farmers to mighty kings, from the marshy Gulf shores and Arabian desert sands to the foothills of the Taurus and Zagros mountains. It is the first resource to capture the entire sweep of Mesopotamia's four major ancient cultures (Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian), spanning three millennia of civilized life in one concise and captivating volume. --Publisher.