The civilization of ancient Mesopotamia spanned more than 3000 years; together with that of ancient Egypt, its record constitutes nothing less than the first half of history. Hundreds of thousands of cuneiform texts, found throughout modern Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, offer detailed glimpses into the achievements of the ancient Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Even though certain aspects of their civilization seem rather alien to us, these people have shaped, in indirect ways, numerous features of our modern world. This book aims to make the long and complex history and culture of Mesopotamia accessible to the modern reader.