From the 21st Century B.C. to the 21st Century A.D.

This collection features proceedings from a 2010 conference that explored the significance of Neo-Sumerian studies, as detailed in From the 21st Century B.C. to the 21st Century A.D..

This volume gathers the proceedings from a three-day conference that took place in Madrid during July 2010, showcasing the vibrant study of late-third-millennium B.C. Mesopotamia. Workshops focused on the Ur III period have been a staple of the Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, occurring approximately every other year since its inception in London in 2003. In 2009, scholars Steve Garfinkle and Manuel Molina invited the Neo-Sumerian community to convene in Madrid prior to the Rencontre in Barcelona. The event attracted over 50 participants and featured eight topical sessions along with 27 papers, reflecting a diverse range of scholarly interests.

The contributions included in this volume delve into various aspects of the Ur III period (2112–2004 B.C.), encompassing new texts, innovative interpretations, and fresh insights into the language, culture, and history of this significant era. The relevance of Neo-Sumerian studies extends beyond Assyriology, as it plays a crucial role in broader explorations of the ancient world. The surviving archives provide valuable information about some of the earliest cities and kingdoms recorded in history.

As the Third Dynasty of Ur represents one of the best-documented centuries in antiquity, there is a collective responsibility among the limited number of scholars engaged with Neo-Sumerian materials to present their findings to a wider, interdisciplinary audience. From the 21st Century B.C. to the 21st Century A.D. serves as a vital step in making this knowledge more accessible across the humanities and related fields.