From Berlin to Bagdad and Babylon

The narrator undertakes a long journey from a major European capital across Anatolia and the Near East to the ancient sites of Mesopotamia, reporting archaeological remains, historical strata, and present-day social, economic, religious, and intellectual conditions. On-site descriptions of ruins, inscriptions, and local customs are combined with reflections on the succession of civilizations that shaped the region. The narrative mixes travel impressions of people and landscapes with discussions of excavations and scholarly debates, often citing authorities to corroborate interpretive claims and to make specialized material accessible to general readers.