A comprehensive survey of the architectural history of the Ancient Near Eastern city in its socio-cultural and economic context. The course intends to survey ancient Near Eastern practices of architectural production and city building in relation to the changing aspects of cultural complexity, material culture, and artisanal traditions. Starting with the beginnings of urbanization in Southern Mesopotamia, the course will move on to the developments in Upper Mesopotamia, especially Anatolia and Syria from prehistory to the Hellenistic period. The architectural innovations of the Hittite, Assyrian and Persian empires in their vast territories will be investigated in detail. Thematically aspects of interregional contact, exchange of art/architectural traditions, cult practices and the making of commemorative monuments will be pursued with discussions of selected readings.