Gives glimpses of some of the most characteristic features of the countries and peoples in ancient times in the Near East: the early herders; those living in the two great river valleys-the Nile and the Tigro-Euphrates; and the Jews and Phoenicians living between these two valleys. Emphasizes the ideas each culture contributed to the general historical stream. Volume 1 in the 7-volume Streams of History series, which presents a vivid picture of the growth of Western Civilization from the early source of the historic stream back in the Nile, the Tigro-Euphrates and the Indus valleys, and then its widening and deepening as it moves westward. The series highlights the contributions of each culture to the stream of history and shows how its contributions are caught up and carried on to future peoples and nations. The student is led to see how each grows out of that which precedes, and shadows forth what follows, and that the discovery of America, and its subsequent institutional development was the fruitage of a seed which lay deep in the historic soul of Europe. Suitable for ages 8 and up.