A guide to the pre-Greek civilisations of Europe and Western Asia, from the Sumerians, Egyptians and Minoans to the Hebrews, Sea Peoples and Persians. Greek civilisation is universally recognised as the basis of the modern West. But what was the basis of the Greek civilisation? From the dawn of history in the empires of Sumer and Babylon, where writing was developed and laws first codified, to the Medes and the Persians whom Alexander the Great conquered, this history charts the political and social changes that took place over the course of many centuries, culminating at last in the intellectual and material achievements of Greece, Rome and their later successors. As well as the famous races like the Jews and Egyptians, Chahin explores less well known but vitally important groups such as the Hittites and Hurrians. The fascinating kingdoms of Crete and Mycenae hover in the shadowy background of the earliest Greek writings; the Sea Peoples are a source of great controversy among Homeric scholars and other students of that period; and the terrible might of the Assyrians is remembered to this day. All those to whom Ancient history means Greece and Rome should read this book and learn what happened in earlier generations to shape the world that the makers of Europe found when they rose to significance. It will appeal to the general reader interested in history, the enthusiast for Greek antiquities keen to discover their context and the Bible student wishing to understand more of the background to the Old Testament.