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Ancient Mesopotamia
- Life in the Cradle of Civilization
- Narrated by: Professor Amanda H. Podany PhD
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
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Summary
When we imagine what life might have been like thousands of years in the past, the images we often conjure are primitive ones: reed and mud huts or plain brick dwellings, cooking pits, villagers, and simple farms. That was indeed what life was like in the earliest settlements, but by 5,000 years ago, life in some places had become much more sophisticated than we might think. Impressive achievements - like stepped temples that towered like mountains, elaborate palaces (some with bathrooms and plumbing), and complex houses - were also a part of life for people who lived in cities that arose thousands of years ago, particularly in the fertile region that emerged along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Welcome to Mesopotamia, the ancient name for the region that is now Iraq, a remarkably advanced civilization that flourished for two-thirds of the time that civilization has existed on Earth. Mesopotamians mastered irrigation agriculture; built the first complex urban societies; developed writing, literature, and law; and united vast regions through warfare and diplomacy. While civilizations like Greece and Rome have an unbroken tradition of written histories, the rich history of Mesopotamia has only been recently rediscovered, thanks to the decipherment of Mesopotamia's cuneiform writing less than 200 years ago. In this 24-lecture course taught by Professor Podany, you'll fill in the blanks of your historical understanding as you witness a whole new world opening before your eyes.
Riveting stories about kings and priestesses as well as ordinary people from all walks of life transport you back in time, giving you invaluable insights into the history of a landmark region that has long been known as the cradle of civilization.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What listeners say about Ancient Mesopotamia
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- Michael Tierney
- 15-03-19
really enjoyed
really enjoyed it made history interesting and opens up a window into the past that opens up a vista to the present.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Binky
- 02-03-21
Great course
So interesting! Really enjoyed this course. The presenter is engaging and made it come alive.
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- Thomas Barker
- 01-01-21
Enthralling
Great introduction to an exciting and underrepresented age. Plenty of depth with an engaging and well considered narration
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- Kindle Customer
- 24-02-22
Excellent it
Excellent in all respects, a bright light has been focused on a neglected forgotten history
L
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- Sam Lucas
- 24-01-21
Great introduction, not to academic
Great introduction, interesting lectures and but not overly academic and heavy to listen to(this will be good for some, and poor for others)
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- Ann
- 29-11-20
Utterly engaging
Fantastic content read well and with the enthusiasm of the author. A topic covering thousands of years but there are many highlights that even I retain. If you have an interest in this subject the lecture structure makes this easy to read and of course, revisit at any time.
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- Ramya Kirtisinghe
- 26-05-20
immersive
Enjoyed every minute of this lecture. Easy to absorb and very interesting. Definitely would recommend.
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1 person found this helpful
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- KK
- 21-08-20
Excellent
A really excellent introduction to a civilization I knew almost nothing about (I once read "Gilgamesh The King" to my children). The professor introduces us to this fascinating civilization from begining to end, in the scholarly, yet no less entertaining, style typical of The Great Courses, which I relish. Her enthusiasm and expertise shines through. Historical knowledge, and a compelling narrative, achieved with none of the "fluff" you find in many other media. I'd recommend this to anyone with a general interest, like myself. The discussion in the earlier lectures, about the beginnings of agriculture was the most convincing I have heard. (I had vaguely wondered about why anyone would do such a thing!)
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- Nod3397
- 08-03-21
A good history account of the early Near East.
I would listen to one half hour lecture at a time when I went out walking. This helped to take in the information better and not to overload with place and individual names. I must confess that I also read the text book by Van De Microop, A history of the ancient Near East (at home) to accompany it and this helped greatly. I found the narration very good with Professor Podany bringing in her own experiences to help with the understanding of the civilization.
If you don't get to hung up about trying to remember all the place names and individuals, but are trying to get a general idea of the early Mesopotamian civilization and its development, then I would really recommend this book.
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- Kawena
- 13-04-21
Fascinating: expert and lively
Professor Podany was excellent. More like storytelling than a university lecture; except that it is deeply scholarly. I binged on it and greatly enjoyed deepening my knowledge of this era, which has always fascinated me.
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