This book presents a clear, concise history of the extraordinary multicultural civilizations of the ancient Near East. * Bestselling narrative of the complex history of the ancient Near East* Addresses political, social, and cultural developments* Contains in-depth discussion of key texts and sources, including the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh* Includes numerous maps, illustrations, and a selection of Near Eastern texts in translation* Integrates new research, and greatly expands the guides to further reading for this second edition