Ancient Mesopotamia at the Dawn of Civilization

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Prologue

 

Chapter 1. The Sumerian Takeoff

Natural and Created Landscapes

A Reversal of Fortune

Forthcoming Discussions

Chapter 2. Factors Hindering Our Understanding of the Sumerian Takeoff

The Material Limits of the Evidence

Conceptual Problems

Methodological Problems

Chapter 3. Modeling the Dynamics of Urban Growth

Growth as Diversification

Growth as Specialization

Growth Situated

Growth Institutionalized

Chapter 4. Early Mesopotamian Urbanism: Why?

Environmental Advantages

Geographical Advantages

Comparative and Competitive Advantage

Chapter 5. Early Mesopotamian Urbanism: How?

The Growth of Early Mesopotamian Urban Economies

The Uruk Expansion

Multiplier Effects

Chapter 6. The Evidence for Trade

Chapter 7. Early Mesopotamian Urbanism in Comparative Perspective

Evidentiary Biases

Florescent Urbanism in Alluvial Mesopotamia

The Primacy of Warka: Location, Location, Location

Aborted Urbanism in Upper Mesopotamia

Chapter 8. The Synergies of Civilization

Propinquity and Its Consequences

Technologies of the Intellect

The Urban Revolution Revisited

Chapter 9. Conclusion: The Mesopotamian Conjuncture

Epilogue: Early Sumerian Civilization: A Research Agenda

Agency

Paleoenvironment

Trade

Households and Property

Excavation and Survey

Paleozoology

Mortuary Evidence

Chronology

The Early Uruk Problem

 

Appendix 1. Early/Middle Uruk Sites in the Mesopotamian Alluvium Organized by Size and Presumed Functional Category

Appendix 2. Late Uruk Sites in the Mesopotamian Alluvium Organized by Size and Presumed Functional Category

Notes Reference List Source List Index