History of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 3

Gaston MasperoProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.1

Word count: 542K words
Chapters: 55

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 3 (of 12)Author: Maspero, G. (Gaston), 1846-1916,Language: English, Class: DS: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Asia, Release Date: Dec 16, 2005

Editor's review

As Volume 3 of a twelve-volume history of the ancient Near East, this book follows the first two volumes' account of early civilization in Egypt and Mesopotamia and extends its scope to Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria. It is an important text for understanding Orientalist scholarship from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. Maspero interweaves archaeological finds with classical sources to trace dynastic change, religious ideas, and material culture; his narrative combines the coherence of a general history with the detail of a monograph. This electronic edition comes from Project Gutenberg and is a public-domain English original, suitable as supplementary reading for courses in ancient world history or as a starting point for specialized research. Note that some chronological frameworks and ethnic attributions reflect the limitations of the era in which the book was written; readers should compare it with contemporary Near Eastern archaeology rather than treat it as definitive. It is best read at a quiet desk, ideally alongside maps and chronological tables.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of ancient world history who need a systematic overview of the historical development of Mesopotamia and Syria
Serious history readers interested in ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilizations
Scholars in Oriental studies or the history of archaeology who need to consult early general histories
Self-learners with good English reading ability who are willing to work through a public-domain original

Not a good fit for

Casual readers seeking a quick, accessible introduction
Readers with weak English who would struggle with nineteenth-century academic prose
Researchers expecting the latest archaeological findings and surveys of contemporary academic debates

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents and the opening introduction to grasp this volume's place within the twelve-volume structure, then decide which chapters to read closely.
Keep a map of the ancient Near East and a dynastic chronology at hand to check place names and timelines.
Annotate the book's chronological and ethnic attributions, and after finishing consult contemporary general histories for comparison.
Read by theme—religion, cities, kingship—rather than page by page, to avoid fatigue.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English? Is it difficult to read?

This is a public-domain English ebook released by Project Gutenberg. The original is academic writing from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, with long sentences and dense proper names, so good English reading ability is required. It is best attempted by readers at university English level with some basic knowledge of ancient Near Eastern history.

How does Volume 3 connect with Volume 2?

The work is a twelve-volume general history, and Volumes 2 and 3 are consecutive in time and region. Volume 3 shifts its focus to Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria. Reading in volume order is recommended: first grasp the Egyptian and Mesopotamian background in the first two volumes, then proceed to this volume for smoother comprehension.

Are the historical conclusions in this book still reliable today?

The book reflects the Orientalist scholarship of its time. Some chronological frameworks, ethnic divisions, and textual interpretations have since been revised by later archaeological discoveries and cuneiform research. It is better read as a document in the history of scholarship and as a narrative framework; specific historical judgments should be compared with contemporary works on Near Eastern history.

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About the author

Gaston Maspero Author · French · 1846–1916

Gaston Maspero (1846–1916) was a French Egyptologist born in Paris. He directed the Egyptian Antiquities Service and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, carried out excavations at Saqqara, and organized the royal mummies, laying a foundation for modern Egyptology. The library holds 13 of his works, chiefly the multi-volume History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, along with A Manual of Egyptian Archaeology and Guide to the Study of Antiquities in Egypt and L'archéologie égyptienne. Grounded in material and textual evidence, his writing is clear and well organized, combining scholarship with readability, and remains a valuable reference for the study of ancient Egypt and the ancient Near East.