In the ancient Near East, the first societies with a written culture in world history were established. Starting from both the written record and the archaeological material remains, this work offers an innovative and up-to-date overview of the civilizations that developed in this rich confluence of continents. It presents its complex multicultural history: from the rise of writing, the origins of the first cities in Mesopotamia and the Babylonian and Hittite kingdoms, to the rise of the Assyrian and Persian empires and the transformation of the Near East after Alexander's conquests. And it includes numerous supporting materials such as documents, discussions, charts, maps, and illustrations.

Reviews and criticisms:

- "A perfect manual for the approach and study of this historical period." (Echoes of Asia)

- «An outstanding synthesis work that tells us about the evolution of the civilizations that populated this region. The Columbia University History professor combines in his work the main lines and results of historiographic research with a simple and accessible style for the less experienced in the field. The result is an extremely interesting historical review of one of the least known periods of our past. (Metahistory)