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Babylon

Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization
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( 3,101 ratings, 349 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Babylon by Paul Kriwaczek offers a vivid exploration of one of the ancient world's most influential cities. The book delves into its transformation from a small settlement to a grand metropolis, examining the social, cultural, and political developments that characterised its era. It provides an engaging narrative that brings to life the innovations and complexities of Babylonian civilisation.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by ancient civilizations and want to explore the rise and fall of one of the world's oldest cities. It delves into the social, cultural, and political life of the past, offering insights into how this historic metropolis shaped the course of history.

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In the sixth millennium BC, settlers on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers created the world's first cities. In doing so, they wrote the opening chapter of the history of human civilization as we know it. Paul Kriwaczek tells their extraordinary story.

In the sixth millennium BC, settlers on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers created the world's first cities. In doing so, they wrote the opening chapter of the history of human civilization as we know it. Paul Kriwaczek tells their extraordinary story.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In Babylon, Paul Kriwaczek tells the story of ancient Mesopotamia from the earliest settlements around 5400 BC to the eclipse of Babylon by the Persians in the sixth century BC. He chronicles the rise and fall of dynastic power during this period and examines its numerous material, social, and cultural innovations and inventions: the wheel, civil engineering, building bricks, the centralised state, the division of labour, organised religion, sculpture, education, mathematics, law, and monumental building.

At the heart of Kriwaczek's magisterial account is the glory of Babylonβ€”'gateway to the gods'β€”which rose to glorious prominence under the Amorite king Hammurabi, who unified Babylonia between 1800 and 1750 BC. While Babylonian power would rise and fall over the ensuing centuries, it retained its importance as a cultural, religious, and political centre until its fall to Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Paul Kriwaczek's Babylon has been praised for its eloquent and thought-provoking portrayal of ancient Mesopotamia. It combines historical detail with a compelling narrative, highlighting the region's human struggles and military achievements. Reviews note that this work provides a vivid account of a civilisation that, despite immense challenges, left a lasting impact on history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781848871571

Publisher: Atlantic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2012

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Atlantic Books

Edition: Main

Illustration: 4x4 black and white plates

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 317g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Paul Kriwaczek was born in Vienna in 1937. In 1970 he joined the BBC full-time and wrote, produced and directed for twenty-five years. A former head of Central Asian Affairs at the BBC World Service, he is fluent in eight languages, including Farsi, Pashto, Urdu, Hindi and Nepalese.

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