Julian Reade Knihy

For almost three centuries, until 612 B.C., the small kingdom of Assyria dominated the Middle East, its empire at one point extending from Iran to Egypt. The story of those years--the triumphs of the Assyrian kings in war and peace, their exploits in the hunting field, and the gods who watched over them--were recorded in stone on the walls of a succession of royal palaces. These sculptures, offering eyewitness views of a long-lost civilization, were not rediscovered until the nineteenth century. The finest collection, transported with great difficulty to Europe, is now preserved at the British Museum. This book describes how the sculptures were found and what they meant to those who created them. It is both a richly illustrated history of Assyrian sculpture in general and a guide to the outstanding collections of the British Museum. For this Second Edition of Assyrian Sculpture, in a new format, the author has updated the text and bibliography.

A concise, yet thorough study of early Mesopotamia before c.1500 BC. The history of this area of modern-day Syria and Iraq and the people that inhabited it are discussed alongside some wonderful photographs of objects from the British Museum collection. Mesopotamia was a leading centre for literacy and spear-headed innovation and change in the 3rd-2nd millennium BC. Julian Reade discusses the archaeological and textual evidence for early agriculture, the development of social and political complexity, the emergence of the city-states and later empires.

Focusing on the early populations of the Indian Ocean region, this comprehensive volume features contributions from leading scholars and presents an extensive overview of current research. Organized into four sections, it explores the environment, early civilizations, the classical period, and interactions between Africa and China. This pioneering work offers an in-depth analysis of the Indian Ocean's historical significance, shedding light on its vital role in shaping world history.