Status
Available
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Series
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Collection
Publication
Oxford University Press (2002), Paperback
Description
"The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt is the only history to provide detailed historical coverage of Egypt from the early Stone Age to its incorporation into the Roman Empire. The essays and beautiful illustrations portray the emergence and development of the distinctive civilization of the ancient Egyptians covering the period from 700,000 B.C. to A.D. 311. The authors outline the principal sequence of political events, including detailed examinations of the three so-called Intermediate Periods previously regarded as 'dark ages'."--Jacket.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Neutiquam_Erro
The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt is really more of an encyclopedia than a narrative history. Each of its 15 chapters is written by a different author, presumably an expert in the particular time period under study. This lends itself to a disjointed style as each author presents an overwhelming
That said, the book is definitely a significant resource for anyone interested in Egyptian history. It covers the Egyptian state from prehistory through its incorporation into the Roman empire. Three chapters cover the pre-dynastic period including one on the Paleolithic period, one on the Naqada period and one entitled "Emergence of the Egyptian State" (Dynasties 0-2). Subsequent chapters for the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms (2 chapters for the last of these) and the Intermediate Periods follow. A rather strange and slightly redundant chapter, entitled "Egypt and the Outside World" is located just prior to the article on the Third Intermediate period. Its insertion here seems an afterthought as it covers the material of several preceding chapters using a topical, rather than chronologic, approach. Finally, several shorter chapters cover the Late Period, the Ptolemaic Period and the Roman Period. The book has a substantial further reading list and glossary as well as a tabular chronology, and index. It is well illustrated, with many black and white pictures, extensive maps and approximately 40 colour plates. Unfortunately, there is often a disconnect between the written material and the plates and pictures, leaving the reader confused as to their purpose.
I would definitely recommend this book as a scholarly or reference resource due to its detailed approach but I would suggest it not be the first book you read if you are a casual reader, interested in understanding the sweep of Egyptian history.
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welter of archeological facts in an effort to deal with their own view of the controversies in the assigned area. While no doubt providing the experienced Egyptologist with fine details is important, the casual reader will find the book a dense and confusing read. The details of stone-age arrowhead manufacture or the various types of thrown pottery in the First Intermediate Period tend to obscure the bigger picture. As a prerequisite for reading this book I would recommend something lighter and more cohesive such as "A History of Ancient Egypt" by Grimal.That said, the book is definitely a significant resource for anyone interested in Egyptian history. It covers the Egyptian state from prehistory through its incorporation into the Roman empire. Three chapters cover the pre-dynastic period including one on the Paleolithic period, one on the Naqada period and one entitled "Emergence of the Egyptian State" (Dynasties 0-2). Subsequent chapters for the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms (2 chapters for the last of these) and the Intermediate Periods follow. A rather strange and slightly redundant chapter, entitled "Egypt and the Outside World" is located just prior to the article on the Third Intermediate period. Its insertion here seems an afterthought as it covers the material of several preceding chapters using a topical, rather than chronologic, approach. Finally, several shorter chapters cover the Late Period, the Ptolemaic Period and the Roman Period. The book has a substantial further reading list and glossary as well as a tabular chronology, and index. It is well illustrated, with many black and white pictures, extensive maps and approximately 40 colour plates. Unfortunately, there is often a disconnect between the written material and the plates and pictures, leaving the reader confused as to their purpose.
I would definitely recommend this book as a scholarly or reference resource due to its detailed approach but I would suggest it not be the first book you read if you are a casual reader, interested in understanding the sweep of Egyptian history.
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LibraryThing member sereq_ieh_dashret
Really packed with facts. A must-read for the Ancient Egypt fan
LibraryThing member belgrade18
A good resource, and well-written in its way. While I wouldn't call it an "encyclopedia," as many here have, it is almost overloaded with facts and factoids to the point that it is difficult to digest the whole thing if you try to read it straight through (which I did in preparation for a trip to
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Egypt). Some of the writing is dry and academic, especially in the first few chapters: okay, we don't know many things for sure, but the authors of those early chapters (and some later ones too) seem more concerned with being called out by colleagues for not ultra-qualifying every single statement than they are with making sense to a lay person and just giving us something to go on. Yet, I got a lot out of it and plan to keep it as a reference. The edition I read dates from the year 2000 or so, and I wonder if there haven't been DNA studies that tell us more about how the many bodies found in the royal tombs were truly related to each other and who some of the general populace were- did the first Egyptians to put down permanent roots come from the East, West, or South, or were thy there all along? And who were the Hyksos? Show Less
LibraryThing member deusvitae
A survey of Egyptian history from prehistory until the supremacy of Christianity in the middle 300s.
A lot of archaeological detail is given for the discoveries of prehistory and for the Second Intermediate Period in the north. Otherwise the narrative focuses primarily on what is known from funerary
To this end a lot of the story is about kings and the things they built. It's a bit disappointing that more was not made of the Deir el-Medina community and what could be known about the life of the artisan class based on these resources. One chapter focuses on the relationships with other nations. But it's mostly rulers and what large-scale developments can be perceived through material remains.
This is a very accessible introduction to the history of ancient Egypt.
A lot of archaeological detail is given for the discoveries of prehistory and for the Second Intermediate Period in the north. Otherwise the narrative focuses primarily on what is known from funerary
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and temple monuments, a bit from Manetho, and whatever may exist from parallel records from other lands. To this end a lot of the story is about kings and the things they built. It's a bit disappointing that more was not made of the Deir el-Medina community and what could be known about the life of the artisan class based on these resources. One chapter focuses on the relationships with other nations. But it's mostly rulers and what large-scale developments can be perceived through material remains.
This is a very accessible introduction to the history of ancient Egypt.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
552 p.; 9.8 inches
ISBN
0192802933 / 9780192802934