Chapter I: Preface: v

I. THE DECIPHERMENT OF THE CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTIONS 7

II. THE ARCHÆOLOGICAL MATERIALS; THE EXCAVATIONS AT SUSA
AND THE ORIGIN OF BRONZE 36

III. THE SUMERIANS 67

IV. THE RELATION OF BABYLONIAN TO EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION 101

V. BABYLONIA AND PALESTINE 135

VI. ASIA MINOR 160

VII. CANAAN IN THE CENTURY BEFORE THE EXODUS 187

INDEX 215

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

_Facing page_

REVERSE OF A TABLET IN THE HITTITE LANGUAGE FROM
BOGHAZ KEUI (_Frontispiece_)

MAP--THE EASTERN WORLD IN THE SEVENTH CENTURY B.C. 7

THE TOMB OF DARIUS 16

BLACK OBELISK OF SHAL-MANESER II 21

CHALDÆAN HOUSEHOLD UTENSILS IN TERRA-COTTA 21

THE TELL OF JERABIS (PROBABLY THE ANCIENT CARCHEMISH) 40

THE TUMULUS OF SUSA, AS IT APPEARED TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF
LAST CENTURY 46

HEAD OF ONE OF THE STATUES FROM TELLO 58

VASE OF SILVER, DEDICATED TO NINGIRSU BY ENTENA PATESI OF
LAGAS 58

THE TELL OF BORSIPPA, THE PRESENT BIRS-NIMRUD 78

THE SEAL OF SHARGANI-SHAR-ALI (SARGON OF AKKAD): GILGAMES
WATERS THE CELESTIAL OX 88

BAS-RELIEF OF NARAM-SIN 88

SITTING STATUE OF GUDEA 122

MAP--THE FIRST ASSYRIAN EMPIRE 135

VIEW OF THE TEMPLE OF UR IN ITS PRESENT STATE, ACCORDING
TO LOFTUS 141

THE GARDENS AND HILL OF DHUSPAS OR VAN 163

THE RUINS OF A PALACE OF URARTU AT TOPRAK-KALEH 166

THE RUINS AT BOGHAZ KEUI 174

ONE OF THE PROCESSIONS IN THE RAVINE OF BOGHAZ 176