Best Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer History Books of 2025

A new history book titled "Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Empire" by historian Eckart Frahm is a comprehensive account of the ancient civilization that established the model for future empires. The book not only covers the Assyrians' conquests but also their vast libraries, trade, and information networks, highlighting the crucial role played by royal women. The author's nearly two centuries of research offer a rich picture of the Assyrians and their empire beyond the battlefield. Despite Assyria's crushing by rising powers, their legacy has endured and influenced other empires, including Rome. This authoritative account of a civilization is essential to understanding the ancient world and our own.

"1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed: Revised and Updated" by Eric Cline is a fascinating read that sheds new light on the collapse of the Late Bronze Age civilizations. Cline argues that the collapse was not caused by a single factor, but rather by multiple interconnected failures such as invasion, earthquakes, drought, and the cutting of international trade routes. He brings to life the vibrant multicultural world of these great civilizations and shows that their interdependence ultimately hastened their dramatic collapse. This book is a compelling combination of narrative and the latest scholarship, making it a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history."

The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer is an engaging narrative history that connects the cultures of the ancient world. Bauer uses literature, epic traditions, private letters, and accounts to connect kings and leaders with the lives of those they ruled. The book covers the ancient worlds of Sumer, Egypt, India, China, Greece, Mesopotamia, and Rome, and provides dozens of maps and timelines to give readers a sense of the passage of years and cultural interconnection. Although the chapters on Asia and India are the least developed, the book provides an engrossing tapestry of human behavior from which we may draw conclusions about the direction of world events and the causes behind them. Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone interested in ancient history.

Enuma Elish: The Babylonian Creation Epic is a fascinating read for anyone interested in ancient history and mythology. This book includes not only the Babylonian Creation Epic but also the first Great Flood myth, 'Atrahasis'. The book takes the reader on a journey through the creation of the universe and the emergence of the gods, including their conflicts and battles. It also tells the story of Marduk, the champion who slayed the creature Tiamat. The book is unique in its ability to shed light on the origins of many of the stories found in the Book of Genesis. Overall, Enuma Elish is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and mythology of ancient Mesopotamia.

"The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire" by Joseph Sassoon is a captivating and well-researched account of the gilded Jewish Bagdadi Sassoons, who built a vast empire through global finance and trade that spanned three continents. The book offers a generational saga of the making and undoing of a family dynasty that ultimately changed the destinies of nations. With full access to rare family photographs and archives, the author provides a detailed account of the Sassoon family's rise to power, their vast wealth, and their influence on politics and business. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of commerce and banking and the impact of Jewish families on global trade."

America is the True Old World, Volume II: The Promised Land is a fascinating ancient American history book that challenges the traditional narrative. With over 70 color illustrations, the book is a visual treat, and its 9 chapters are jam-packed with information that will make readers question everything they thought they knew about history. The author, Amunhotep Chavis El-Bey, provides compelling evidence that many famous ancient civilizations were located in the Americas. The book also debunks the Transatlantic slave trade story and offers a unique perspective on the history of the Americas. Overall, this is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that will leave readers with a new appreciation for the richness and complexity of ancient American history.

Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants by James Vincent is a fascinating exploration of how measurement has shaped human civilization since ancient times. Vincent takes the reader on a journey through the intellectual origins of measurement, from the Nile River to the metric system, and even to our current age of the “quantified self.” He also delves into the political consequences of measurement, revealing how it has been used as a tool for oppression and control. Overall, Beyond Measure is a thought-provoking and engaging read that sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of human history.

Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States challenges the traditional narrative that plant and animal domestication led to civilization and political order. James C. Scott argues that the first agrarian states were born of accumulations of domestications, including control over reproduction. He explores why early humans avoided sedentism and plow agriculture, the advantages of mobile subsistence, and the unforeseeable disease epidemics arising from crowding plants, animals, and grain. Scott also discusses the tension between states and nonsubject peoples. This book is a fascinating and well-researched critique of the standard version of history.

The Anunnaki Chronicles: A Zecharia Sitchin Reader is a must-read for history buffs and anyone interested in the origins of humanity and civilization. Zecharia Sitchin's decades of research into ancient Sumerian and Akkadian clay tablets reveal a coherent narrative about the true origins of humanity and civilization. This collection includes carefully selected chapters from the Earth Chronicles series as well as never-before-published letters, articles, and lectures. The book offers an insider's look into the meticulous research behind Sitchin's theories and discoveries, making it a unique and insightful read for anyone interested in ancient history.

Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian: An Introduction for Complete Beginners is a unique book that teaches the world's oldest written language to people with no prior experience in ancient languages. The author, Dr. Joshua Bowen, simplifies the grammatical concepts, making it easy for beginners to understand. The book includes exercises, vocabulary lists, and cuneiform inscriptions to help readers master the language. The author's expertise in Sumerian language and Megan Lewis's contribution as an Assyriologist make this book a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history.