Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent (Looking Back)
Grade 5-7-This useful title traces the evolution of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians from prehistoric peoples to agrarian village cultures to flourishing empires. Individual chapters concentrate on government, religion, arts, sciences, and the rise of the Persian Empire. Competently written with useful information for reports, this cultural history is well organized and clearly stated. Maps and full-color reproductions and photographs of artifacts and ruins help make the presentation attractive and easy to understand. For those wanting more extensive information, Pamela F. Service's Mesopotamia (Benchmark, 1998) and Elaine Landau's The Assyrians, The Babylonians, and The Sumerians (all Millbrook, 1997) offer good solid information for the same age group.Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, ORCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.