I. Introduction / Herbert Niehr -- II. History / H. Sader -- III. Society, institutions, law, and economy / Dagmar Kuhn -- IV. Language and script / Holger Gzella -- V. Literature / Paolo Merlo -- VI. Religion / Herbert Niehr -- VII. Art / Dominik Bonatz -- VIII. Architecture / Mirko Novak -- IX. Outlook : Aramaeans outside of Syria -- Assyria / Martti Nissinen -- Babylonia / Michael P. Streck -- Anatolia / Andre Lemaire -- Phoenicia / Herbert Niehr -- Palestine (Angelika Berlejung) -- Egypt (Alejandro F. Botta) -- Northern Arabia (Herbert Niehr) -- X. Aramaean heritage / John F. Healey.