The breakout: the origins of civilization.

The breakout: the origins of civilization. MARTHA LAMBERG-KARLOVSKY (ed.). The breakout: the origins ofcivilization (Peabody Museum The Peabody Museum can refer to several museums founded by or dedicated to George Peabody: George Peabody House Museum at his birthplace in Peabody, Massachusetts Peabody Leather Museum in Peabody, Massachusetts Monographs No. 9). xx+131 pages, 31figures. 2000. Cambridge (MA): Harvard University; 0-87365-910-4paperback. Dr HANSEN has assembled essays by historians and archaeologists toassess the nature of `city states' and consider the role of thecities in world history. They include 11 on the ancient and Classicalworld, six on the Middle Ages and early Modern period in Europe, sevencase-studies from Asia, seven from Africa, and three from Mesoamerica.Not surprisingly, the diversity seems baffling baf��fle?tr.v. baf��fled, baf��fling, baf��fles1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie.2. To impede the force or movement of.n.1. ; but, reviewing previousliterature as well as his own assembly of contributions, andconcentrating on political organization, Dr HANSEN identifies recurrenthistorical and geographical patterns and distinguishes city statesproper from states which incorporated distinct urban communities.Allowance has to be made for problems of definition and commensurability com��men��su��ra��ble?adj.1. Measurable by a common standard.2. Commensurate; proportionate.3. Mathematics Exactly divisible by the same unit an integral number of times. Used of two quantities. between different studies -- as Dr HANSEN is aware. He concludes that`Republicanism and federalism' today `stem from city-statecultures' (pp. 615-16). All but three of the papers are in English(two in French, one German). See too NEILS NEILS National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (Menlo Park, CA)in `Greeks and Romans'and MARTIN & GRUBE in `Mesoamerica', below. The Metropolitan Museum marked the millennium with a beautifullyproduced survey of fine art around the world 2000 years ago -- Year One-- illustrated from its own collection. The biggest proportion isdevoted to the Roman Empire but South and East Asia are respectablyrepresented too. The focus is on the objets but a few maps andphotographs of monuments hint at context. The breakout is based on pieces first published in the housemagazine of the Harvard Anthropology Department and Peabody Museum. Withan essay of the editor's on the history of thinking about theorigins of civilization and one by M.T. Larsen on `Orientalism and NearEastern archaeology', it comprises seven chapters covering theMiddle East, the Harappan and China (on the latter, both K.C. Chang andG.R. Willey) plus M. Hammond on Indo-European democracy, L. Schele onthe Maya and D. Maybury-Lewis on dualism and secularism sec��u��lar��ism?n.1. Religious skepticism or indifference.2. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education. . Thesethought-provoking little pieces reward scholars and laity alike. CompareTUZIN in `Theory', above.