ebooks Reading and Writing in Babylon by Dominique Charpin in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. All you wanted to know about writing and reading cuneiform tabletsBy T. WebsterThis is an outstanding book by Dominique Charpin; Professor of Mesopotamian History at the Sorbonne in Paris; and scholar at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes; on reading and writing in the cuneiform culture of ancient Mesopotamia; from the invention of writing in the late 4th millennium BCE (circa 3200) to end of Mesopotamian supremacy in the region toward the middle of the first century BCE following the Persian and Greek invasions. Charpin discusses just about everything you could want to know about cuneiform texts and how they were used by governments and merchants during almost 3000 years of Sumerian; Assyrian; and Babylonian dominance in the area now known as Iraq. He describes the materials: refined clay and a variety of styli with wedge-shaped ends (cuneiform means wedge-shaped). I am not a specialist in Assyriology; so I cannot address the fine points of debate in the academic world about the topics Charpin addresses; but it appears that he is an acknowledged expert in the field and a number of the scholarly references in this book are familiar to me from other reading.Some inscriptions were made on stone; such as the famous stele with the Code of Hammurabi; but most were made on small clay tablets. The tablets were small enough to hold in one hand. When the writer had filled the front surface with writing using stylized characters derived from pictograms; he (nearly always he) would either turn it over and keep writing or start another tablet. The speed of the writer mattered; because as the clay began to dry out; the writing surface became harder; and it was more difficult to make clean marks in the clay surface. When the “document” was finished; it was allowed to air dry. Only special tablets intended for repeated use were fired like pottery for hardness. As a result; the tablets that survived to our time were buried in dry dirt and ruined buildings for two thousand years or more.Most cuneiform writing is in the Sumerian and Akkadian languages; the languages of ancient Sumer and Akkad. Akkadian continued to be used even as peoples in the area began speaking different languages due to invasions and rivalries between kingdoms; much as the Western world used Latin long after the collapse of the Roman Empire. The most famous of the cuneiform writings are now known as the Gilgamesh Epic and the Enuma Elish; the Mesopotamian creation story that relates the exploits of the god Marduk. Cuneiform writing was quickly perceived as an innovation of great practicality; not only for accounting; but enabling a king or court official or general to send a message to someone many miles away. Tablet letters that were confidential were enclosed in a clay envelope that was imprinted with the sender’s seal. If the clay envelope was broken; the recipient knew the letter had been read.Charpin describes and quotes from a wide variety of messages; mostly from the late second and early first millennium. His approach is encyclopedic; making it impossible in a brief review to mention all the topics he covers. Suffice it to say he discusses the technology of writing; the likely incidence of literacy; the teaching of writing; the practice of reading letters out loud to the recipient; the need for literate secretaries and the difficulties of maintaining confidentiality of messages; standards for dating and situating cuneiform texts; modes of address; formulaic blessings and curses; and much more. If you have ever wondered about cuneiform writing and want to dig into the subject deeply; this would be an excellent introduction. The text was composed in French and translated into English. Chardin says in his preface that this edition is a revised version of the French edition. He says he wanted to reach a wide audience and so wrote in a less technical manner than he would for his fellow Assyriologists. The translation reads well; though it often seems somewhat more scholarly than popular. Anyone with a few college literature or history courses in their background should find this book informative.The text is augmented with 51 black and white photographs and diagrams of tablets of various types. The descriptions under the illustrations are succinct and interesting. All sources are cited with in-text references; and side issues are occasionally taken up in endnotes. The bibliography is full and up to date (prior to publication). This would make an interesting gift for someone you know (yourself?) who has an interest in ancient history or the development of writing technology. Given the usual price of academic press books; which can cost $100 or more; this one is a great bargain. Highly recommended.15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Good introduction to the history of cuneiform writing.By William S. MonroeThis book will not teach you to read cuneiform; but it deals with the history of the writing; and of reading and writing in general in ancient Mesopotamia. Written by a respected scholar in the field; but for a lay audience. The author has some definite opinions; and points out where controversies lay (such as in the extent of literacy in the ancient Near East). A good book for anyone who may be interested in the history of reading and writing.3 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Phillip Cruzgreat read for a novice like me good read.