The Cambridge Ancient History

Volume III Part II describes the rise and fall of the great empires of Assyria and Babylonia, the sack of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews in Babylon.

John Boardman (Edited by), I. E. S. Edwards (Edited by), E. Sollberger (Edited by), N. G. L. Hammond (Edited by)

9780521227179, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 January 1992

962 pages, 51 b/w illus. 16 maps 3 tables
30 x 17.5 x 4.6 cm, 1.387 kg

"The answer to the question whether the ancient world is worth studying is 'yes', and the Cambridge Ancient History proves it....CAH III/2 is an impressive achievement." John Ray, Times Literary Supplement

Volume III Part II carries on the history of the Near East from the close of Volume III Part I and covers roughly the same chronological period as Volume III Part III. During this period the dominant powers in the East were Assyria and then Babylonia. Each established an extensive empire which was based on Mesopotamia, and each in turn fell largely through internal strife. Assyrian might was reflected in the imposing palaces, libraries and sculptures of the Assyrian kings. Babylonian culture was outstanding in literature, mathematics and astronomy, and the great buildings of Nebuchadnezzar II surpassed even those of the Assyrian kings. Israel and Judah suffered at the hands of both imperial powers, Jerusalem being destroyed and part of the population deported to Babylon; and Egypt was weakened by an Assyrian invasion. The Phoenicians found a new outlet in colonising and founded Carthage. A number of small, vigorous kingdoms developed in Asia Minor, while from the north and north east the Scythian nomadic tribes pressed down upon Turkey and the Danube valley, but found their match in the Thracian tribes which held south-eastern Europe and parts of western Turkey. The burials of the chieftains of both peoples were remarkable for the great wealth of offerings.

Part I. Assyria and Babylonia: 21. Babylonia in the shadow of Assyria (747–626 BC) J. A. Brinkman
22. Assyria: Tiglath-Pileser III to Sargon II (744–705 BC) A. K. Grayson
23. Assyria: Sennacherib and Esarhaddon (704–669 BC) A. K. Grayson
24. Assyria (668–635 BC): the reign of Ashurbanipal A. K. Grayson
25. The fall of Assyria (635–609 BC) Joan Oates
26. Assyrian civilisation A. K. Grayson
27. Babylonia (605–539 BC) D. J. Wiseman
28a. Neo-Babylonian society and economy M. A. Dandamaev
28b. Babylonian mathematics, astrology and astronomy Asger Aaboe
28c. First-millennium Babylonian literature Erica Reiner
Part II. The Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea: 29. Israel and Judah from the coming of Assyrian domination until the fall of Samaria, and the struggle for independence in Judah (c.750–700 BC) T. C. Mitchell
30. Judah until the fall of Jerusalem (c.700–586 BC) T. C. Mitchell
31. The Babylonian exile and the restoration of the Jews in Palestine (586–c.500 BC) T. C. Mitchell
32. Phoenicia and Phoenician colonisation W. Culican
33a. The Scythians T. Sulimirski and T. Taylor
33b. Thrace before the Persian entry into Europe G. Mihailov
34a. The native kingdoms of Anatolia M. Mellink
34b. Anatolian languages O. Masson
35. Egypt: the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth dynasties T. G. H. James
Chronological tables
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]