The course aims to give you a thorough overview of Ancient Near Eastern (in particular, but not exclusively Mesopotamian) history. You will learn the most important historical periods from the late Neolithic period (ca. 6000 BC) down to the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC). In the historical part we will focus on the political organization and the inner and outer conflicts that states had to face. Furthermore, you will learn about the ancient culture of the Near East: the organization of temples and their cult, the palaces and their personnel, family life, profession and class, women and their position in society, as well as the economic structures and trade.