| Abstract |
Often forgotten in today’s world, Aramaic is an international language with a 3000-year history. From the rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the seventh century BCE to the arrival of Arabic under Islam in the seventh century CE, Aramaic comprised the most widely spoken language across the Middle East—from Libya to Turkey to Pakistan, and it continues in use today. Holger Gzella has written the very first history of this language, introducing Aramaic’s history, geography, and cultural aspects in a single volume. The challenges of this undertaking are significant and such a book is necessary. Gzella handles most of this geographical and historical scope skillfully by drawing from his own expertise and the expertise of others. Still, the book contains few footnotes and little bibliography. Luckily, it depends on Gzella’s earlier, fully-referenced book, The Cultural History of Aramaic (2015), which can be consulted. Only one chapter falls short, however, and requires substantial supplementation. That is Chapter 7, which focuses on Jewish Aramaic during the rabbinic period (second through seventh centuries CE). This disorganized chapter often presents accurate details, only to contradict within a page or two and underrepresents recent scholarship that would give a fuller history. This review will summarize the book’s moves in order, and illuminate Chapter 7 in its place. |
