Contents -- List of Maps and Plates -- List of Abbreviations -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Chapter One Introduction -- Chapter Two History -- 1. Geographical and Chronological Scope -- 2. The Sources for a History of the Aramaeans of Ancient Syria -- 3. The Aramaeans in the Iron Age I (1200-900 B.C.): From Kin-Based Groups to Polities -- 4. The Iron Age II: Aramaean Polities and the Assyrian Conquest -- 5. Concluding Remarks -- Chapter Three Society, Institutions, Law, and Economy -- 1. Society -- 2. Institutions -- 3. Law and Jurisdiction -- 4. Economy -- Chapter Four Language and Script -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Script and Orthography -- 3. Phonology -- 4. Morphology and Morphosyntax -- 5. Syntax -- 6. Lexicon -- Chapter Five Literature -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Terminology -- 3. Overview on History and Literary Genres -- 4. Historical Narrative in Royal Inscriptions -- 5. Elements of Religious Literature -- 6. Wisdom Literature -- Chapter Six Religion -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Between the Tigris and Euphrates -- 3. From the Euphrates to the Mediterranean -- 4. Middle Syria -- 5. Outlook -- Chapter Seven Art -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Monumental Art in Architecture -- 3. Free-Standing Sculptures -- 4. Seals and Minor Arts -- Chapter Eight Architecture -- 1. Introduction -- 2. City Planning -- 3. Citadels and Fortifications -- 4. Palaces -- 5. Temples -- 6. Houses and Workshops -- 7. Conclusion -- Chapter Nine Outlook: Aramaeans Outside of Syria -- 1. Assyria -- 2. Babylonia -- 3. Anatolia -- 4. Phoenicia -- 5. Palestine -- 6. Egypt -- 7. Northern Arabia -- Chapter Ten Aramaean Heritage -- 1. Edessa, Hatra, Palmyra -- 2. Mesopotamia, Judaea, Nabataea -- 3. Areas under Strong Greco-Roman Influence (Antioch to Dura Europos) -- Bibliography -- Index of Persons -- Index of Deities -- Index of Lands, Peoples, Tribes, Cities, Sites -- Plates.