Frühe Kulturen der Ägäis

German
When asked about the origins of European culture and history, one often thinks of the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey (ca. 7th century BC). But what was before Homer? Klaus Tausend investigates this long-neglected question by examining the development of states, societies and cultures in the Aegean region from the 7th to the 2nd millennium BC. He shows that technologies and knowledge from Mesopotamia and Egypt were transferred to the European cultural area through the Aegean. The Aegean itself benefited most from this mediating role. In a manageable volume and in easily understandable language, Tausend describes the history and significance of the early cultures in the Aegean.

English
When we think about the origins of European culture and history, the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey (c. 7th century BCE) often springs to mind. But what came before Homer? Klaus Tausend investigates this long-neglected question by closely examining the development of states, societies and cultures in the Aegean region from the 7th to the 2nd millennia BCE. The book aims to present the history and significance of the early cultures of the Aegean within a manageably sized volume and in language that is easily understood. It shows that the Aegean acted as an intermediary in the diffusion of technology and knowledge from Mesopotamia and Egypt into the European cultural area.