The book is a volume introducing the basic knowledge of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization.The focus of the book is the history and culture of Babylonia (the southe Mesopotamia) from the very beginning to the Seleucid period (312-63 B.C.E.).As a Chinese book,it is of much value,not only because most of the people living in the mode easte Asia,especially in China are extremely unfamiliar with the past Mesopotamian civilization,a foreign and nonexistent civilization (on the language,the literature,the religion,the art,the thoughts,the life style,and so on) which is so remote and very different from their own history and their own life,but also because the Chinese scholars,in lack of archaeological experiences and language advantages in the ancient near easte studies,are still developing this discipline,although it is already well developed in Europe and America.However,people are always curious about the unknown things,and it is the duty of scholars to provide people with more knowledge.Apparently,any monograph like this present book should always be welcome and helpful.