In continuation of the Publications of the Association of Ancient Historians’ interest in current trends toward ancient historical research, this volume shifts the focus the Ancient Near East. Beginning with the earliest civilizations known, the essay by Gonzalo Rubio explores the field of Sumerian and Babylonian studies, the realm of southern Mesopotamia. Following a northern arc, the next essay, by Steven J. Garfinkle, considers the Assyrians as they are currently being viewed. Gary Beckman then addresses the present trends in the study of the Hittites in Anatolia. The final essay brings the discussion to the familiar realms of the biblical world directly with a contribution by Daniel C. Snell considering Syria-Palestine in present-day research. Edited by Mark W. Chavalas, this handy study provides a roadmap of the state of historical research in the period of high antiquity.