Part I. Order
Legitimacy
and Wealth in Ancient States: 1. Introduction: ideology
wealth
and the comparative study of 'civilizations' Mary Van Buren and Janet Richards; 2. Order
legitimacy
and wealth: setting the terms John Baines and Norman Yoffee; Part II. Civilizations in Comparative Perspective: 3. Society and individual in Early Egypt David O'Connor; 4. Modified order
responsive legitimacy
redistributed wealth: Egypt
2260-1650 BC Janet Richards; 5. Law courts and the mediation of social conflict in ancient Mesopotamia Norman Yoffee; 6. High culture
Mesoamerican civilization
and the classic Maya tradition Rosemary A. Joyce; 7. Political fragmentation and ideological continuity in the Andean highlands Mary Van Buren; 8. Wealth and socio-economic hierarchies of the Indus Valley civilization Jonathan Mark Kenoyer; 9. Classical order
alternative orders
and the uses of nostalgia Susan E. Alcock; 10. Order
legitimacy
and wealth in ancient China Bennet Bronson; Part III. Conclusions: 11. The politics of high culture: issues of worth and rank Elizabeth M. Brumfiel.