Introduction: The Aim of Study of Ancient West Asian Civilization

Abstract

This book is the first step towards creating a new discipline, the “Study of West Asian Civilization”. The term “West Asia” is used for the study area in this book and indicates the western part of Asia, which has generally been referred to as the Middle East. We would like to exclude this eurocentric synonym (Middle East) and mitigate potential bias (i.e. historical and Western) by using a purely geographical term. West Asia has been the focal point of great inventions and transformations in human history. From the 10th to 1st millennia BC, this region is extremely important in the history of innovation, such as the origin of agriculture, development of metallurgy, formation of cities, invention of writing, organization of territorial states and the appearance of monotheism. West Asia was technologically and socially advanced compared to the rest of the world during this 10,000 year period and provided the foundation for all modern civilizations. This book specifies the background conditions for a series of great transformations and innovations. We could recognize the extreme richness and diversity of the natural environment and resources for human beings and the remarkable mutual interaction between human groups in West Asia. The “Study of West Asian Civilization” focuses on this history of West Asia prior to Islam, and discusses its advancement and universality. In promoting this new discipline, we build a new image of West Asia, which can stand in opposition to the prejudice and negative image that is currently commonplace.