African history: pre-colonial Books

Book SynopsisThis is a story studded with extraordinary achievements and historic moments, from the building of the pyramids and the conquest of Nubia, through Akhenaten''s religious revolution, the power and beauty of Nefertiti, the glory of Tutankhamun''s burial chamber, and the ruthlessness of Ramesses, to Alexander the Great''s invasion, and Cleopatra''s fatal entanglement with Rome. As the world''s first nation-state, the history of Ancient Egypt is above all the story of the attempt to unite a disparate realm and defend it against hostile forces from within and without. Combining grand narrative sweep with detailed knowledge of hieroglyphs and the iconography of power, Toby Wilkinson reveals Ancient Egypt in all its complexity.Trade Review‘A sophisticated and complete account of the world's first nation state' * The Times Books of the Year *‘Wilkinson's stirring and clear sighted account of the ancient world's most enduring civilisation comes as a welcome treat' * Sunday Times Books of the Year *‘I had always presumed, before I read Wilkinson's book, that it was impossible to write a history of Egypt which combined scholarship, accessibility, and a genuine sense of revelation. I was wrong' * Observer *‘A comprehensive, illustrated history focusing on the dark side of the Pharaohs and some harsh political realities' * The List *

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Book SynopsisThe Oxford History of Ancient Egypt is the only up-to-date, single-volume history of ancient Egypt available in English. The accessible essays and attractive illustrations portray the emergence and development of the distinctive civilization of the ancient Egyptians, from their prehistoric origins to their incorporation into the Roman Empire, covering the period from c. 700,000 BC to AD 311. The authors - all experts working at the cutting edge of their particular fields - outline the principal sequence of political events, including detailed examinations of the three so-called ''intermediate periods'' which were previously regarded as ''dark ages'' and are only now beginning to be better understood. Against the backdrop of the rise and fall of ruling dynasties, this Oxford History also examines cultural and social patterns, including stylistic developments in art and literature. The pace of change in such aspects of Egyptian culture as monumental architecture, funerary beliefs, and ethnicity was not necessarily tied to the rate of political change. Each of the authors of this history has therefore set out to elucidate, in both words and pictures, the underlying patterns of social and political change and to describe the changing face of ancient Egypt, from the biographical details of individuals to the social and economic factors that shaped the lives of the population as a whole.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition The approach combines traditional chronological history with cultural and social historical material to produce a well rounded picture ... chapters covering prehistory and the intermediate periods are particularly good, with Seidlmayer on the First Intermediate Period and Bourriau on the Second Intermediate Period outstanding. Bryan's chapter on the 18th Dynasty before the Amarna Period is also particularly good. * Antiquity *If you only want to read one book on Egypt, then read this one ... even people who consider themselves as experts on Ancient Egypt will find much to set them thinking: And while such Egyptologists will have a field day, the casual reader will find plenty to arouse their interest, ranging from the story of the world's first strike ... to the revelation that Scotland Yard possesses a print taken from the hand of a mummy. * The Northern Echo *splendid, lavishly illustrated book ... the only single-volume work to cover 700,000 years of Ancient Egypt from the stone age to Roman conquest ... Lucidly edited by Ian Shaw ... you get the facts without the dust. An excellent choice for enthusiasts and novices alike; even better if you can persuade someone to buy for you as a present. * Roddy Phillips, Aberdeen Press and Journal *From the Stone Age to the Roman occupation in the fourth centry AD, the mighty Egyptian dynasties are brought to life in almost 450 pages ... never anything but deeply informative, without losing sight of the essential attribute of any book - readability ... both stimulating to the casual reader or keen-to-learn holiday maker and the serious student alike. * Peter Leach, North West Evening Mail *brimming with ... intriguing facts ... also provides a first-rate overview of - le progrès Egyptien - from the period when Homo erectus first stalked the land right up to Octavian's triumphant entry into Egypt in 30 BC. * Douglas Kennedy, The Times *Table of ContentsList of Maps; Acknowledgements ; Introduction ; Prehistory: Palaeolithic and Neolithic ; Predynastic Period ; Late Predynastic and Early Dynastic ; The Rise of Eqyptian Civilization ; The Old Kingdom ; The First Intermediate Period ; The Middle Kingdom ; The Second Intermediate Period ; The New Kingdom: Pre-Amarna ; The New Kingdom: Amarna and Post-Amarna ; Egypt and the Outside World ; The Third Intermediate Period ; The Late Period ; The Ptolemaic Period ; The Roman Period ; Further Reading; Chronological Tables; Acknowledgement of Sources; Index

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Book SynopsisTypically wide-ranging, informative, and illuminating . . . a lovely book Peter FrankopanWhen did globalization begin? Most observers have settled on 1492, the year Columbus discovered America. But as celebrated Yale professor Valerie Hansen shows, it was the year 1000, when for the first time new trade routes linked the entire globe, so an object could in theory circumnavigate the world. This was the ''big bang'' of globalization, which ushered in a new era of exploration and trade, and which paved the way for Europeans to dominate after Columbus reached America.Drawing on a wide range of new historical sources and cutting-edge archaeology, Hansen shows, for example, that the Maya began to trade with the native peoples of modern New Mexico from traces of theobromine - the chemical signature of chocolate - and that frozen textiles found in Greenland contain hairs from animals that could only have come from North America.Moreover, Hansen turns accepted Trade ReviewProvocative . . . a smart, broad-ranging survey of the global Middle Ages that is learned, thought-provoking - and perfectly tuned to our times -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *Typically wide-ranging, informative, and illuminating, Valerie Hansen has written a lovely book that puts together the pieces of the global jigsaw puzzle of a millennium ago -- Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads: A New History of the WorldThe world has been connected longer than the schoolbooks tell you, a whole millennium longer at least: connections of gold and spices, dragons and slaves and faith. Valerie Hansen teases out the unfamiliar links between Chinese markets, Baghdad fortunes, strange blonds on the walls of Mayan temples, and Vikings on Russian rivers in a careful but accessible and truly global history -- Michael Pye, author of The Edge of the WorldValerie Hansen's sweeping tour of the world in the year 1000 is revelatory and full of eye-opening surprises. She tells a rich and fascinating story of the many ways that far-flung societies a millennium ago forged connections among themselves, a reminder that the forces of globalization that seem so potent today have been at work for centuries. A masterly work of scholarship -- Liaquat Ahamed, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lords of FinanceValerie Hansen takes us on an informative and entertaining romp around the world of a thousand years ago, on everything from Viking longboats to camel caravans in Central Asia. Anyone who thinks that globalization is something new in life needs to read this book! -- Ian Morris, author of Why the West Rules - For NowIn a rich and fascinating account of the world around the year 1000, Valerie Hansen shows how people, goods, and ideas traversed vast spaces. Ranging by sea and land across six continents, she seeks out exciting and unexpected connections that show that globalization is by no means new to our own time -- David Abulafia, author of The Boundless SeaValerie Hansen has not only fashioned a coherent and original vision of the world in the year 1000, in itself a remarkable feat of scholarship, but described it in a clear, concrete and absorbing narrative that will entertain and enlighten every reader -- R.I. Moore, author of The First European Revolution and The War on HeresyWhat makes The Year 1000 so special is that it is the result of the author's unique fusion of firsthand, on-site investigations around the world and intensive research in far-flung libraries, archives, and museums. What's more, all of this energetic, scholarly activity is combined with a compelling argument for a new hypothesis concerning the origins of globalization, a topic that could hardly be more pertinent to our own age -- Victor H. Mair, editor of The Columbia History of Chinese Literature and coauthor of The History of Tea and Sacred DisplayThe myth of the 'European Middle Ages' dissolves in the ocean currents and trade winds of this stimulating account of early global connections. Bolstered by facts and enlivened by intriguing theories, Hansen's book presents a world of objects, ideas, people, animals, and know-how constantly on the move. A brisk and refreshing trip for us all -- Barbara H. Rosenwein, author of A Short History of the Middle Ages and Generations of FeelingA tour-de-force and offers many new ways of thinking about the past -- Katrina Gulliver * Spectator *A fascinating, gripping, all-encompassing read -- Giles CorenHighly impressive, deeply researched, lively and imaginative -- Christiane Bird * New York Times *A brilliant communicator... wonderful [book]...brilliant

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Book Synopsis'We need this book' SIMON REEVE'Illuminating' FINANCIAL TIMESWhy is Africa often perceived as a single country? What role did African soldiers play in the Second World War?Who else led the charge against Apartheid in South Africa?How did an African man become one of the wealthiest people in history?It's a Continent unravels these untold stories and delves into the fascinating and diverse cultures of Africa's 54 nations.With its bold and colourful narrative, It's a Continent breaks down this vast and complex continent, chapter by chapter, focusing on each country's unique history. From ancient kingdoms to modern struggles for independence, from overlooked heroes to monumental achievements, this book shines a light on the pivotal moments that have shaped Africa's position on the global stage.This book is a corrective to the misconceptions and misrepresentations of Africa as a monolith. Through its pages, you'll discover Africa's diversity, beauty and complexity and gain a deeper appreciation for its rich heritage and contributions.

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Book SynopsisCleopatra''s palace shimmered with onyx and gold but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. Stacy Schiff boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order, a generation before the birth of Christ. Rich in detail, epic in scope, Schiff''s is a luminous reconstruction of a dazzling life.Trade ReviewUnder [Schiff's] pen, the mirage of Cleopatra shimmers down the deserts of time and suddenly stands before us, in new and thrilling sharp focus ... full of well researched context and much learned speculation -- Jan Moir * Daily Mail *We see a great queen painted in dazzling colours in the twilight of a dazzling kingdom ... new life is breathed into an indisputably authentic icon * Sunday Times *An inspired combination of carefully parsed texts, new research and pulse-quickening descriptive writing ... formidable and spellbinding achievement * Guardian *[Schiff] has done her homework and writes elegantly and wittily, creating truly evocative word pictures. * Independent *Schiff has produced a highly literary, imaginative, coherent narrative, "restoring context" to the sources she delves into in an intelligent way. Her writing is energetic, evocative... She also has an unerring nose for what is interesting * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisJoyce Tyldesley lives in Bolton, Lancashire. She gained a first-class honours degree in archaeology from Liverpool University in 1981 and a doctorate from Oxford in 1986. She is now Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics andOriental Studies at Liverpool University and a freelance writer and lecturer on Egyptian archaeology. Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt, is published by Penguin and her next book - a biography of Nefertiti - will be delivered in May 1997.

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Book SynopsisFrom its humble origins as a cluster of rival chiefdoms along the banks of the Nile, ancient Egypt rose to become one of the most advanced civilizations of its time. This atlas traces its turbulent history and remarkable cultural development, from the founding of Memphis around 5000 BC, through the territorial expansion and flourishing trade of the ‘age of empire’, to Greek domination and ultimate collapse. Political rivalries are charted through the successive dynasties, from the strife of the intermediate periods to the golden ages of prosperity and artistic glory under Akhenaten, Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. The latest archaeological evidence is used to cast new light on the vast architectural legacy of the world’s first great nation state. The authoritative narrative, illustrated with over sixty full colour maps and over seventy plates, makes this an indispensable handbook for history students and enthusiasts alike.Table of ContentsPart 1 Origins of ancient Egypt: prehistoric Egypt; the emergence of Egypt; the old kingdom administration; old kingdom Egypt and Nubia; the great pyramid age; the first intermediate period; the Egyptian language and writing. Part 2 The middle kingdom: the wars of reunification; the administrative state; the faiyum and delta; middle kingdom Egypt and the near east; middle kingdom Egypt and Nubia; the second intermediate period; Thebes, Kush and the Hyksos kings; Egyptian literature. Part 3 The new kingdon: the wars of Ahmose; Wawat and Kush; Egypt, Syria and Palestine I; Egypt, Syria and Palestine II; Punt and Gods land; power and the royal palace I; power and the royal palace II; the Amarna letters; Egyptian art. Part 4 The late new kingdom: the road to Kadesh; urbanization; Libyan invasions and the sea peoples; the decline of the royal authority; Tanis, Thebes and Libya; the Palestinian campaign of Shoshenk I; division of the kingdom; king from the Kush; the valley of the kings. Part 5 The late period: the sack of Thebes; the saite monarchy; Saite Egypt and the near east; the Nubian legacy of the 25th dynasty; Persian and Egyptian independence; after Alexander; women in Egypt;

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Book SynopsisUnravel the history behind of one of the most fascinating ancient civilisations with this engaging, entertaining and educational guide to the ancient Egyptians.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Introducing the Ancient Egyptians 7 Chapter 1: Getting Grounded: The Geography and History of Ancient Egypt 9 Chapter 2: Examining the Lives of the Everyday Egyptians 29 Part II: Stepping Back in Time 55 Chapter 3: Building a Civilisation with Military Might 57 Chapter 4: Building the Empire: The Glories of the New Kingdom 79 Chapter 5: Looking at the Power Behind the Throne: Royal Women 101 Chapter 6: Following the Decline and Fall of the Egyptian Civilisation 117 Part III: Living Life to the Full: Culture and Beliefs 139 Chapter 7: Enjoying Food and Entertainment 141 Chapter 8: Staying Healthy: Diseases and Medicine 157 Chapter 9: Worshipping like an Egyptian: Religion 171 Chapter 10: Exploring Funerary Beliefs and Mummification 189 Part IV: Interpreting Egyptian Art and Architecture 207 Chapter 11: Deciphering Egyptian Art and Hieroglyphs 209 Chapter 12: Touring the Temples 229 Chapter 13: Excavating the Tombs: Houses of Eternity 253 Chapter 14: Probing the Pyramids 271 Part V: The Part of Tens 285 Chapter 15: Top Ten Breakthroughs in Egyptology 287 Chapter 16: Ten Egyptians Worth Knowing 297 Chapter 17: Ten Ancient Egyptian Achievements 307 Chapter 18: Top Ten Places to Visit in Egypt 317 Chapter 19: Ten Key Egyptologists 327 Index 335

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Book SynopsisA detailed account suitable for students of Egyptology, enthusiasts and anyone with more than a passing interest in Ancient Egypt.

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Book SynopsisRichard Miles is Professor of Classics at the University of Sydney and a Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge University. He has written widely on Punic, Roman and Vandal North Africa and has directed archaeological excavations in Carthage and Rome. He is also the author of Ancient Worlds (Allen Lane, October 2010) and the presenter and writer of the series Ancient Worlds for BBC2.Trade ReviewMr. Miles has skilfully fused the works of ancient historians such as Polybius and Livy, a wide range of modern studies and recent archaeological research to create a convincing and enthralling narrative * The Economist *Richard Miles's Carthage Must be Destroyed is a refreshing addition to the debate -- Philip Parker * Financial Times *This is a lively and compelling, chronological account of Carthage from its Phoenician foundation to its reception in Emperor Augustus's Rome -- Paul Cartledge * Literary Review *Richard Miles tells this story with tremendous élan, combining the best of modern scholarship with narrative pace and energy. It is a superb achievement, a model for all such endeavours. He is even better on the little-known background to this tale -- Peter Jones * Telegraph *The dramatic story of these events is set out in gripping detail * The Scotsman *A fine, sweeping survey of the rise and fall of an empire and a glimpse into the diversity of the ancient world ... Richard Miles is ... concerned with the wider context ... and his book is all the more valuable for that * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisDid the Exodus occur? This question has been asked in biblical scholarship since its origin as a modern science. The desire to resolve the question scientifically was a key component in the funding of archaeological excavations in the nineteenth century. Egyptian archaeologists routinely equated sites with their presumed biblical counterpart. Initially, it was taken for granted that the Exodus had occurred. It was simply a matter of finding the archaeological data to prove it. So far, those results have been for naught.The Exodus: An Egyptian Story takes a very real-world approach to understanding the Exodus. It is not a story of cosmic spectaculars that miraculously or coincidentally occurred when a people prepared to leave Egypt. There are no special effects in the telling of this story. Instead, the story is told with real people in the real world doing what real people do.Peter Feinman does not rely on the biblical text and is not trying to prove that the Bible is true. He places the Exodus within Egyptian history based on the Egyptian archaeological record. It is a story of the rejection of the Egyptian cultural construct and defiance of Ramses II. Egyptologists, not biblical scholars, are the guides to telling the Exodus story. What would you expect Ramses II to say after he had been humiliated? If there is an Egyptian smoking gun for the Exodus, how would you recognize it? To answer these questions requires us to take the Exodus seriously as a major event at the royal level in Egyptian history.Trade ReviewThe book is a reminder that myths and legends survive far longer than historical facts and can even shape the destinies of people living three millennia later. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ * Fortean Times *Table of Contents1. The Egyptological Search for the Exodus 2. Egypt, Egyptology, and the Exodus: The Egyptian Cultural Construct 3. The Hyksos: The People of the 400 Year Sojourn 4. The Hyksos: The Triumph and Defeat of Apophis 5. Ramses, the Pharaoh of the Exodus 6. The Exodus 7. Post-Exodus Stress Disorder

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Book SynopsisHatshepsut, the daughter of a general who took Egypt's throne without status as a king’s son and a mother with ties to the previous dynasty, was born into a privileged position of the royal household. Married to her brother, she was expected to bear the sons who would legitimize the reign of her father’s family. Her failure to produce a male heir was ultimately the twist of fate that paved the way for her inconceivable rule as a cross-dressing king. Hatshepsut was a master strategist, cloaking her political power plays with the veil of piety and sexual expression. Just as women today face obstacles from a society that equates authority with masculinity, Hatshepsut had to shrewdly operate the levers of a patriarchal system to emerge as Egypt's second female pharaoh. Scholars have long speculated as to why her images were destroyed soon after her death, all but erasing evidence of her rule. Constructing a rich narrative using the artifacts that remain, noted Egyptologist Kara Cooney offers a remarkable interpretation of how Hatshepsut rapidly but methodically consolidated power—and why she fell from public favor just as quickly.Trade Review'An entertaining and well-researched biography on a lesser-known - but no less influential and powerful Egyptian woman'. * History Revealed *'With rigorous scholarship and a lively sense of sisterhood, Cooney retrieves Hatshepsut in her own times and liberates her as a woman for ours' * The Times *‘Hatshepsut’s story provides all the ingredients required of a modern bestseller’ * Mail on Sunday *'Kara Cooney has written a lively, engaging, historically accurate account of one of the most controversial of Egypt’s female pharaohs, Hatshepsut. Cooney presents an accessible story of Hatshepsut’s rise to power until her demise, bringing ancient Egypt, its people, and its rulers to life.' -- Salima Ikram, Professor of Egyptology, American University in Cairo'Engrossing and compulsively readable.' * Time *‘The life of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s second female pharaoh, was replete with opulent living, complex royal bloodlines, and sexual energy; in short, the kind of drama that fuels Ancient Egypt’s enduring appeal…From Hatshepsut’s self-perception, political prowess, and lifestyle emerge an image of the ‘ultimate working mother’ and a compelling insight into ancient gender roles.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Cooney's detective work finally brings out the story of a great woman's reign.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘Egyptologist Cooney peels back the layers of the life of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s second female pharaoh, providing a multidimensional portrait of a woman of strength, intelligence, and substance.’ * Booklist *‘The Woman Who Would Be King is a fascinating look at one of the most formidable and successful women in all of ancient history. Before Cleopatra there was Hatshepsut. Now, thanks to Kara Cooney, the real Hatshepsut stands before us in all her glory. For the first time we have a full-length biography of her that is not only a great scholarly work but also a marvelous read.’ -- Amanda Foreman, author of The Duchess and A World on Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War‘The compelling biography of a fascinating woman: the daughter, wife and stepmother of kings, who defied tradition to rule the most powerful nation in the Mediterranean world as pharaoh. Cooney tells her tale with authority, sensitivity and imagination. It is a tale that deserves to be told.’ -- Joyce Tyldesley, author of Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt and Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh‘What Stacy Schiff did for Cleopatra, Kara Cooney has done for Hatshepsut. An absolutely fantastic read about one of the most powerful Pharaoh-Queens in ancient Egypt. Completely unputdownable!’ -- Michelle Moran, bestselling author of Nefertiti‘The story of Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled Egypt as Pharaoh, is an amazing tale and Dr Cooney tells it in a very personal way. Readers are going to love this version!’ -- Bob Brier, author of The Murder of Tutankhamen‘This biography of Hatshepsut is an ideal blend of historical analysis and an imaginative story. Cooney’s narrative flows as if it were a novel, but at the same time illuminates the historical, economic, social, and religious context of Hatshepsut’s world, and that of the people surrounding her. The reader is given a glimpse into a vibrant ancient world—one that we oftentimes forget about in the midst of all the granite and mudbrick that remains today. Writing a biography of a woman about whom there is little archival information is difficult, to say the least. Nevertheless, Cooney presents a seamless picture of Hatshepsut’s life and her rise to power in ancient Egypt.’ -- Professor Kathleen Sheppard, author of The Life of Margaret Alice Murray: A Woman's Work in Archaeology

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Book SynopsisThis cohesive account of Egypt’s millennia-long past offers readers a sure guide through the corridors of Egypt’s past, from the mysterious predynastic kingdoms to the nation-state of the twenty-first century. The author addresses central issues such as how Egyptian history can be treated as a whole and how the west has shaped prevailing images of it, both through direct contact and through the lens of western scholarship. Drawing on current historical scholarship and his own research, Jason Thompson has written a remarkable work of synthesis and concision, offering students, travelers, and general readers alike an engaging one-volume narrative of the extraordinarily long course of human history by the Nile. This updated paperback edition contains new material on the 25 January Revolution, the rise and fall of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the new era of President Sisi.Trade Review"“Intended to offer travelers especially a basic background in Egyptian history, Thompson’s survey fluidly relates thousands of years of time. . . . An excellent introduction to Egyptian history.”—Gilbert Taylor, Booklist, ""A remarkable work of synthesis, cohesion, and understanding.""—Al-Ahram Weekly, ""[An] excellent summation of the flow of Egyptian history.""—Egyptian Archaeology, ""[The] dearth of comprehensive histories is answered handsomely by Thompson's survey.""—Saudi Aramco World"Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface Chronology Maps 1. The Gift of the Nile 2. The Birth of Egyptian Civilization: Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt 3. The Old Kingdom 4. The First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom 5. The Second Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom 6. The Third Intermediate Period and the Late Period 7. Ptolemaic Egypt 8. Egypt in the Roman Empire 9. Coptic Egypt 10. The Advent of Islam 11. The Fatimids and Ayyubids 12. The Mamluks 13. Egypt in the Ottoman Empire 14. The Birth of Modern Egypt 15. Mid-Nineteenth-Century Egypt 16. The British Occupation of Egypt 17. The Parliamentary Era 18. Nasser 19. Sadat 20. Mubarak 21. Postscript to Revolution Notes Recommended Reading Image Sources

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Book SynopsisThe ancient Egyptians presented themselves as superior to all other people in the world; on temple walls, the pharaoh is shown smiting foreign enemies - people from Nubia, Libya and the Levant - or crushing them beneath his chariot. Officially, foreigners represented disorder and chaos - the opposite of Egypt's perfect land of justice and order. But despite such imagery, from the beginning of their history, the Egyptians also enjoyed friendly relations with neighbouring cultures; both Egyptians and foreigners crossed the deserts and seas exchanging goods gathered from across the known world. They shared knowledge and technology, and sometimes settled abroad, marrying and acculturating. Through such interactions, the Egyptians influenced other cultures, and at the same time were themselves shaped by foreign contacts and external events.War & Trade with the Pharaohs explores Egypt's connections with the wider world over the course of 3,000 years, introducing readers to ancient diplomacy, travel, trade, warfare, domination, and immigration - both Egyptians living abroad and foreigners living in Egypt. It covers military campaigns and trade in periods of strength - including such important events as the Battle of Qadesh under Ramesses II and Hatshepsut's trading mission to the mysterious land of Punt - and Egypt's foreign relations during times of political weakness, when foreign dynasties ruled parts of the country. From early interactions with traders on desolate desert tracks, to sunken Mediterranean trading vessels, the Nubian Kingdom of Kerma, Nile fortresses, the Sea Peoples, and Persian satraps, there is always a rich story to tell behind Egypt's foreign relations.

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Book SynopsisWith a novelist's pen, Forster brings to life the fabled, romantic city of Alexander the Great, capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt, beacon of light and culture symbolised by the Pharos, where the doomed love affair of Antony and Cleopatra was played out and the greatest library the world has ever known was built. In the autumn of 1915, in a 'slightly heroic mood', E.M. Forster arrived in Alexandria, full of lofty ideals as a volunteer for the Red Cross. Yet most of his time was spent exploring 'the magic, antiquity and complexity' of the place in order to cope with living in what he saw as a 'funk-hole'. Threading 3,000 years of history with vibrant strands of literature and punctuating the narrative with his own experiences, Forster immortalised Alexandria in this book, painting an incomparable portrait of the great city and, inadvertently, himself.Trade ReviewThis work is something more than just a work of literary piety devoted to that strange and evocative city called Alexandria... it succeeds in being a small work of art, for it contains some of Forster's best prose as well as felicities of touch only a novelist of major talent could command. Vintage Forster. -- Lawrence DurrellSurely the best guide-book ever written. -- Bonamy DobréeTable of ContentsList of Maps and Plans Introduction Preface Authorities Part I: History I Greco-Egyptian Period II Christian Period III The Spiritual City IV Arab Period V Modern Period Part II: Guide I From the Square to Rue Rosette II From the Square to Ras-el-Tin III From the Square to the Southern Quarters IV From the Square to Nouzha V From the Square to Ramleh VI From the Square to Mex VII Aboukir and Rosetta VIII The Libyan Desert Appendices I The Modern Religious Communities II The Death of Cleopatra III The Uncanonical Gospels of Egypt IV The Nicene Creed Notes

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Book SynopsisHieroglyphs were far more than a language. They were an omnipresent and all-powerful force in communicating the messages of ancient Egyptian culture for over three thousand years; used as monumental art, as a means of identifying Egyptianness, and for rarefied communication with the gods.In this exciting new study, Penelope Wilson explores the cultural significance of the script with an emphasis on previously neglected areas such as cryptography, the continuing decipherment into modern times, and examines the powerful fascination hieroglyphs still hold for us today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. The origins of writing in Egypt ; 2. Hieroglyphic script and the Egyptian language ; 3. Hieroglyphs and art ; 4. 'I Know You, I Know Your Names' ; 5. Scribes and everyday writing ; 6. The decipherment of Egyptian ; 7. Hieroglyphs in the modern world ; Notes ; Chronology ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe first new translation in over 400 years of one of the great works of the Renaissance: an African diplomat''s guide to Africa.In 1518, al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan, a Moroccan diplomat, was seized by pirates while travelling in the Mediterranean. Brought before Pope Leo X, he was persuaded to convert to Christianity, in the process taking the name Johannes Leo Africanus. Acclaimed in the papal court for his learning, Leo would in time write his masterpiece, The Cosmography and the Geography of Africa.The Cosmography was the first book about Africa, and the first book written by a modern African, to reach print. It would remain central to the European understanding of Africa for over 300 years, with its descriptions of lands, cities and peoples giving a singular vision of the vast continent: its urban bustle and rural desolation, its culture, commerce and warfare, its magical herbs and strange animals.Yet it is not a mere catalogue of the exotic: Leo also invited his readers to acknowledge the similarity and relevance of these lands to the time and place they knew. For this reason, The Cosmography and Geography of Africa remains significant to our understanding not only of Africa, but of the world and how we perceive it.

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Book Synopsis'. . . we need this book. Of course Africa needs it as well, because no other huge area of the planet is treated as such a singular region, and that has to change. But the rest of the planet needs It's a Continent because we miss out by not recognising the individual majesty, the complexity, the beauty, the culture and the stories of the dozens of African countries. We owe it to ourselves and our history to put that right.' - Simon ReeveWhy is Africa still perceived as a single country?How did African soldiers contribute to World War II?Who else led the charge against Apartheid in South Africa?How did an African man become one of the wealthiest people in history?There are (hi)stories you were never taught in school.IT'S A CONTINENT delves into these stories and reveals an Africa as you've never read it before. Breaking down this vast, beautiful, and complex continent and exploring each nations' unique history and culture, IT'S A CONTINENT highlights the key historical moments that have shaped each nation and contributed to its modern global position.Each chapter focuses on a different country and uncovers stories that mainstream education doesn't address at its peril.This book aims to highlight the consequences of colonialism and how this legacy reverberates today, as well as how many African countries continue to re-build in its wake.IT'S A CONTINENT is a bold and colourful corrective to the perception of Africa as a monolith. It reveals the fascinating, often overlooked, histories of its 54 nation states too often misrepresented, its inhabitants and its place in the world too often neglected.

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Book SynopsisNow available in paperback, Egyptomania takes us on a historical journey to unearth the Egypt of the imagination, a land of strange gods, mysterious magic, secret knowledge, monumental pyramids, enigmatic sphinxes and immense wealth. Egypt has always exerted a powerful attraction on the Western mind, and an array of figures have been drawn to the idea of Egypt. Even the practical-minded Napoleon dreamed of Egyptian glory and helped open the antique land to explorers. Ronald H. Fritze goes beyond art and architecture to reveal Egyptomania's impact on religion, philosophy, historical study, literature, travel, science and popular culture. All those who remain captivated by the ongoing phenomenon of Egyptomania will revel in the mysteries uncovered in this book.Trade Review'A broader interpretation of the subject, going back to the Greek historian Herodotus and forward to Cecil B. DeMille and Tutankhamen . . . Fritze reminds us that what fascinated later artists and their public was not what Egyptologists considered important. Largely self-nourishing, Egyptomania was often detached from its original sources, and the stream of dime novels and films about mummies and their curses have, according to scholars, more to do with Western guilt over imperialism than with the supernatural. Even the artifacts exhumed from Tutankhamens tomb with great fanfare beginning in 1922 did not, in fact, add much to our knowledge of ancient Egypt, although they were responsible for the museum world’s first blockbuster traveling exhibition . . . Document[s] an enduring fascination with its subject, based, as the author points out, on the fact that it is both comfortably familiar and intriguingly exotic.' - The New York Times, 'The richness, distinction and diversity of ancient Egyptian culture has fired imaginations for millennia. Here, historian Ronald Fritze examines Egyptomania in detail and through time. As Herodotus and other classical scholars extolled Giza’s pyramids and the great lighthouse at Alexandria, Egyptian cults and esoteric tracts seeped into Greece and Rome to later fascinate and befuddle medieval and Renaissance scholars. The cracking of hieroglyphs, discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, and mummymania from the nineteenth century onwards ensured that the craze persists almost unabated today.' - Nature, 'Ronald H. Fritze proves himself an expert guide on this journey through the history of our fascination with Ancient Egypt in all its forms ranging from the serious study of Egyptology to its more bizarre manifestations in popular culture . . . an entertaining, enlightening work.' - Minerva magazine, 'Fritze has used this amazingly fertile field to produce a well-researched and comprehensive history of enthusiasm for all things Egyptological, from ancient times right up to the twenty-first century, spanning the whole spectrum. It is a remarkable achievement and makes for a fascinating read . . . there is a rich mine of factual material here which could repay detailed study.' - Ancient Egypt Magazine, 'Fritze surveys the bewildering variety of Egyptian rites dreamed up by the Rosicrucians, Freemasons and Theosophists, and takes us on an entertaining tour of fringe and alternative history set in the Land of the Nile.' - Fortean Times, 'The particular craze that’s the focus of veteran historian Ronald Fritzes new book Egyptomania is one of the oldest intellectual fads in the history of mankind: the fixation with ancient Egypt that’s been felt by the rest of the world for so long that it actually started when ancient Egypt wasn’t even ancient . . . Fritze’s narrative is dense with historical detail and frequently sparkles with wit. Anyone who has ever felt the touch of Egyptomania . . . will find plenty in these pages to feed their curiosity.' - Open Letters Monthly, 'It’s an enormous subject, and Fritze works his way through it all with a thoroughness no other account has ever quite matched . . . Delves into how the realities of Egyptology have been reimagined or misinterpreted as sources of hermeticism, portals to another reality, or tokens to confer knowledge and respectability . . . Fritze’s entertaining and enlightening work does well in separating ancient Egypt’s actual legacy from the pseudo-history of occultists and assorted charlatans.' - Publishers Weekly, 'From Medieval Christians and Muslims to Napoleon, a detailed but readable account of how Ancient Egypt has been a focus of fascination throughout history, capturing our imagination through its strange gods, murky magic, secret knowledge, immense wealth and mystifying mummies.' - The Bookseller, 'a fascinating read for any who are interested in Egyptian culture.' - Decatur Daily, 'Ron Fritze has an enviable ability to dig deep into the worlds of popular history. Well written, his new book, which goes right up to date, is wide-ranging, both chronologically and thematically. Fritze covers the pyramids, archaeology, film, popular fiction and a wide range of concerns and forms. Deserves wide attention.' - Jeremy Black, author of Contesting History.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One: Egyptomania through the Ages One: The Real Egypt Two: Ancient Egyptomania: Hebrews, Pharaohs and Plagues Three: Classical Egyptomania: The Greeks and Romans Four: Medieval Egyptomania: From St. Augustine to the Renaissance Five: Egyptomania from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment Six: Napoleon’s Expedition to Egypt and the Birth of Modern Egyptomania Seven: Nineteenth-century Egyptomania to the Discovery of Tut Eight: The Rise of Mass Egyptomania: Tutankhamun, Tutmania and the Curse of the Mummy Part Two: Varieties of Modern Egyptomania Nine: Occult Egyptomania Ten: Egyptomania on the Fringe of History Eleven: African American Egyptomania Twelve: Egyptomania and Fiction Postscript References Select Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThe discovery of ancient Egypt and the development of Egyptology are momentous events in intellectual and cultural history. The history of Egyptology is the story of the people, famous and obscure, who constructed the picture of ancient Egypt that we have today, recovered the Egyptian past while inventing it anew, and made a lost civilization comprehensible to generations of enchanted readers and viewers thousands of years later. This, the third of a three-volume history of Egyptology, follows the progress of the discipline from the trauma of the First World War, through the vicissitudes of the twentieth century, and into Egyptology's new horizons at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Wonderful Things affirms that the history of ancient Egypt has proved continually fascinating, but it also demonstrates that the history of Egyptology is no less so. Only by understanding how Egyptology has developed can we truly understand the Egyptian past.Trade ReviewThe coverage of Egyptology and its struggles to survive during the two great wars, particularly the catastrophic losses in the Great War, are a valuable insight ... Without question, this book is a major contribution to the study of Egyptology and will long remain so, for both practising Egyptologists and lay aficionados. * Ancient Egypt *This remarkable three-volume tour de force fittingly ends on Egyptology in Egypt: new museums and the long anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Thompson rightly notes GEM as its ‘happy acronym’. This volume is likewise a gem. * Egyptian Archaeology *Jason Thompson has written what is by far the best history of Egyptology yet. Filled with fascinating facts and characters, Thompson's book is comprehensive and eminently readable and certain to become the standard history of the field for many years to come. * Kent Weeks *“Thompson’s account demonstrates the multiple array of events, personalities, political developments and intellectual inclinations that contributed to shaping the field of Egyptology as it emerged as a self-conscious discipline. Moving beyond the familiar recounting of great discoveries in Egypt, . . . Wonderful Things seeks to demonstrate the power and complexities of Egyptological activities in fashioning the story of ancient Egypt. We learn much about the less acknowledged characters in the narratives of Egyptology, appreciating the different types of contributions individuals made beyond the practices of ‘digging and writing’. The new insights Thompson provides on those who simply ‘made things happen’ is not only fascinating but serves as an extremely valuable contribution to the evaluation of Egyptology’s legacy. This is an incisive anatomy of a discipline that challenges our all too familiar assumptions about how Egyptology came to be.” -- Stephanie MoserWonderful Things: A History of Egyptology: From Antiquity to 1881 is an excellent first installment on something the field has long been lacking--a comprehensive history of Egyptology. After surveying the Greeks and Romans, medieval writers, and the European scholars and travelers of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, Jason Thompson hits full stride with the nineteenth-century. The French expedition and Champollion’s decipherment gave birth to modern Egyptology, and this is the century in which Thompson—the author of definititve biographies of Egyptologists and Orientalists Gardiner Wilkinson and Edward William Lane—feels most fully at home. After the Description de l’Égypte and Champollion come Richard Lepsius, Heinrich Brugsch, Samuel Birch, and Auguste Mariette. All the great figures and landmarks are there, and many lesser ones as well. Both scholars and general readers will eagerly anticipate the second and third volumes to carry the story down to the present. -- Donald M. Reid"This well-researched and authoritative account of the history of Egyptology will become the definitive reference tool for anyone interested in the development of this academic discipline. In this first volume of his study, the author has delved deep into the surviving archives to undercover the growth of Egyptology from antique times until the astonishing success of Mariette. Unlike previous works which only dealt with the highlights of Egyptian archaeology, he covers both the academic and archaeological aspects of the subject and shines a light on many unsung heroes of Egyptology who had been edged out of the limelight by the more well known. When completed, this study will form a lasting memorial to the men and women who in their various ways rescued the past of Egypt. -- Morris Bierbrier“[Wonderful Things] is a remarkable achievement: a scholarly work packed with facts but one which is also genuinely readable. It is ambitious in its scope and detail. To follow the growth of an arcane but also a highly romantic branch of learning becomes in Thompson’s book something close to an adventure. The author successfully convey his infectious enthusiasm for the subject but writes with a degree of detachment that allows him to be refreshingly and occasionally almost ruthlessly trenchant and critical.” * from the Foreword by Jaromir Malek *At last a definitive history, which does justice not only to the major players but to lesser lights as well. Wonderful Things will be immensely valuable. -- Brian Fagan, author of The Rape of the NileRemarkably thorough and yet refreshingly readable, this action-packed history of Egyptology is driven by some extraordinary characters—mostly men but some notable women—who needed to learn everything they could about the culture, land, and language of ancient Egypt. As much a study of European colonialism in Egypt as a historiography of seventeenth- to nineteenth-century scholarship, this volume [1] is an absolute necessity for anybody with an interest in pharaonic Egypt. -- Kara CooneyTable of ContentsChronological Outline of Ancient Egyptian History Maps Preface Acknowledgments 1. Egyptology and the Great War 2. Resuming the Field 3. Wonderful Things 4. The Pharaoh’s Curse 5. Winds of Change 6. George A. Reisner and His Colleagues at Giza 7. Farther South: Nubia and Sudan 8. New Dimensions in Prehistory 9. Inter-War: The Library 10. Years of Uncertainty 11. Nazi Egyptology and the Second World War 12. An Egyptological Intermediate Period 13. Nubian Rescue: The Temples 14. Nubian Rescue: The Archaeology 15. Resuming the Field—Again: Saqqara and Lower Egypt 16: Resuming the Field—Again: Upper Egypt and Beyond 17. Language and Art 18. Writing Ancient Egyptian History 19. Women in Egyptology 20. Points of Departure Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFor over a decade Nefertiti, wife of the heretic king Akhenaten, was the most influential woman in the Bronze Age world; a beautiful queen blessed by the sun-god, adored by her family and worshipped by her people. Her image and her name were celebrated throughout Egypt and her future seemed golden. Suddenly Nefertiti disappeared from the royal family, vanishing so completely that it was as if she had never been. No record survives to detail her death, no monument serves to mourn her passing and to this day her end remains an enigma - her body has never been found. Joyce Tyldesley here provides a detailed discussion of the life and times of Nefertiti, Egypt''s sun queen, set against the background of the ephemeral Amarna court.

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Book SynopsisThis is a vivid chronological history of the civilization of ancient Egypt from its foundation some 5000 years ago to its conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE - effectively the first half of written human history.

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Book SynopsisAncient Egypt: The Basics offers an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the history, archaeology and influence of this fascinating civilization. Coverage includes: A survey of Egyptian history from its earliest origins to the coming of Islam Life and death in ancient Egypt Key archaeological discoveries and important characters Egypt's impact and reception through to the modern day Lively and engaging, this is an indispensable resource for anyone beginning their studies of Egyptian history, culture and archaeology, and a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the country's long and captivating past. Trade Review“An entertaining and informative introduction to the ancient land of the pharaohs, written with great enthusiasm and humour. New Egyptologists – start here!” - Joyce Tyldesley, The Manchester Museum, UK“Intrinsically appealing and engrossing, Ryan uses his extensive background in archaeology and Egyptology, along with a refreshing dose of humour, to take readers on an amazing journey through more than 3000 years of Ancient Egyptian history. This must-read book should find its way into every Egyptophile’s reading list, and those who have it will not be able to put it down.” - Monica Bontty, University of Louisiana, USA"...as an introductory guide for beginners or handy reference for those wishing to put their specialist knowledge into context, this is an essential volume to have on your bookshelf!" - Ancient Egypt magazine Dr. Monica Bontty, University of Louisiana at Monroe "Ancient Egypt has long captured the imagination of people because of its antiquity, glamour and exciting archaeological finds. In the eyes of many, it is shrouded in mystery and myth. The proposal offers an extremely informative introduction to ancient Egypt. It is a concise and user-friendly book, and exactly what a novice needs to explore the wonders of this fascinating culture at a reasonable price." Joyce Tyldesley, University of Manchester, UK "My overall opinion of the proposal is very positive. The proposal describes a book which is well-designed within the Basics series - within the confines of word-length, the book will provide an excellent introduction to the key aspects of ancient Egypt and its modern study.The author is an expert in the field of Egyptology, and so he is more than competent to write on the subject of ancient Egypt. In my experience of his previously published work, he does so in a clear and lively manner. As the brief CV attached to his proposal makes clear, Donald Ryan is well-experienced in producing work which explains the complexities of ancient Egypt, and the work of Egyptologists, to a wide general readership without losing authority." Stacy Davidson, Johnson County Community College "There are many introductory texts on ancient Egypt and most cover the same material. However, the author’s tone and how the material is presented are usually the most important factors for holding a reader’s attention. Dr. Ryan is a prolific author and is knowledgeable on how to sustain the interest of a general audience."Table of Contents1. Ancient Egypt: the loss and rediscovery of a civilization2. Life and death in Ancient Egypt3. Ancient Egypt: the earlier years4. The age of empire and beyond5. Some big discoveries 6. Influences and effects7. Exploring Egypt todayAppendix: Sources for further exploration

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Book SynopsisExploring Religion in Ancient Egypt offers a stimulating overview of the study of ancient Egyptian religion by examining research drawn from beyond the customary boundaries of Egyptology and shedding new light on entrenched assumptions. .Trade Review“This book provides a new and rather different view of religious practice amongst the ancient Egyptians, drawing on an extensive range of texts, artefacts, contextual information, and anthropological approaches from outside Egypt.” (Ancient Egypt, 1 April 2015)Table of ContentsPreface vi 1 Belief without a Book 1 2 Finding the Sacred in Space and Time 38 3 Creating Sacred Space and Time: Temple Architecture and Festival 80 4 Chaos and Life: Forces of Creation and Destruction 110 5 Being Good: Doing, Saying, and Making Good Possible 150 6 Being Well 177 7 Attaining Eternal Life: Sustenance and Transformation 201 Bibliography 238 Index 256

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Book SynopsisA Painted Ridge is a book about the San (Bushmen) practice of rock painting. In it, David Witelson explores a suite of spatially close San rock painting sites in the Maclear District of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. As a suite, the sites are remarkable because, despite their proximity to each other, they share patterns of similarity and simultaneous difference. They are a microcosm that reflects, in a broad sense, a trend found at other painted sites in South Africa. Rather than attempting to explain these patterns chiefly in terms of chronological breaks or cultural discontinuities, this book seeks to understand patterns of similarity and difference primarily in terms of the performative nature of San image-making. In doing so, the bygone and almost unrecorded practice of San rock art is considered relative to ethnographically well-documented and observed forms of San expressive culture. The approach in the book draws on concepts and terminology from the discipline of performance studies to characterise the San practice of image-making as well as to coordinate otherwise disparate ideas about that practice. It is a study that aims to explicate the nuances of what David Lewis-Williams called the ‘production and consumption’ of San rock art.Table of ContentsPREFACE CHAPTER 1: A PAINTED RIDGE CHAPTER 2: PERFORMANCE THEORY CHAPTER 3: DANCING AND PAINTING—A PERFORMATIVE DYAD? CHAPTER 4: BEHIND THE SCENES CHAPTER 5: PAINTED AND IMPLIED INTERACTIONS CHAPTER 6: SHELTERED PERFORMANCES CHAPTER 7: COMING TO TERMS WITH DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES APPENDICES APPENDIX A: SITE MEASUREMENTS APPENDIX B: SCHEMATIC DIAGRAMS APPENDIX C: IMAGE COUNTS APPENDIX D: DIGITAL ENHANCEMENT PROCEDURES

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Book SynopsisThe third in the Roman Conquests series briefly covers Rome's first forays into the dark continent during the First and Second Punic Wars, then covers in detail her vindictive final conquest and destruction of Carthage in the Third Punic War. The subsequent long wars against the slippery Numidian prince, Jugurtha, which tested the Roman military system to the limit, also occupy a central place. With a cast of characters including Hannibal, the Scipios, Marius, Sulla and the wily Jugurtha, this is sure to be a popular addition to the series.Like the other volumes, this book gives a clear narrative of the course of these wars, explaining how the Roman war machine coped with formidable new foes and the challenges of unfamiliar terrain and climate. Specially-commissioned colour plates by Graham Sumner bring the main troop types vividly to life in meticulously-researched detail.

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Book SynopsisTelling the story of a man who stood against the overwhelming power of the mighty Roman empire, Hannibal is the biography of a man who, against all odds, dared to change the course of history. Over two thousand years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome's growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal, consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp? Hannibal appeals to many as the ultimate underdog—a Carthaginian David against the Goliath of Rome—but it wasn't just his genius on the battlefield that set him apart. As a boy and then a man, his self-discipline and determination were legendary. As a military leader, like Alexander the Great before him and Julius Caesar after, he understood the hearts of men and had an uncanny ability to read the unseen weaknesses of his enemy. As a commander in war, Hannibal has few equals in history and has long been held as a model of strategic and tactical genius. But Hannibal was much more than just a great general. He was a practiced statesman, a skilled diplomat, and a man deeply devoted to his family and country. Roman historians—on whom we rely for almost all our information on Hannibal—portray him as a cruel barbarian, but how does the story change if we look at Hannibal from the Carthaginian point of view? Can we search beneath the accounts of Roman writers who were eager to portray Hannibal as a monster and find a more human figure? Can we use the life of Hannibal to look at the Romans themselves in an unfamiliar way— not as the noble and benign defenders of civilization but as ruthless conquerors motivated by greed and conquest?Trade Review"Freeman writes beautifully and with picturesque vision when chronicling Hannibal’s most famous feat." * Merion West *"Freeman gives his readers much to consider in learning about a totally alien world in an easy, uncomplicated lively prose about an epic tale." * New York Journal of Books *“A thorough account of the career of one of the ancient world’s most indelible and complex figures. Freeman vividly, almost cinematically, brings to life the career of Hannibal Barca, the great but ill-fated Carthaginian general whose tactical and strategic brilliance is still studied today. A simultaneously propulsive and nuanced account that hums on the page.” * Kirkus, Starred Review *"Roman historians have cast Hannibal Barca as a cruel, uncouth barbarian, but Philip Freeman’s panoramic biography Hannibal supplies evidence that the great Carthaginian military leader was an educated statesman and diplomat, notable for his devotion to his country, family, and troops. Hannibal is an epic biography of the military genius who nearly ended Rome’s imperial expansion." * Foreword Reviews *“Freeman offers a highly readable, well-organized military and personal biography of the Carthaginian general who nearly changed history, vividly revealing more amazing scenarios in Hannibal’s life and battles than any writer could concoct in a novel. Freeman ends with fascinating speculation on how the modern world would look if Hannibal had won. [A] vivid, fast-moving account.” * Booklist *Praise for Philip Freeman’s Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great:“Freeman’s cultural and historical knowledge bring the emperor to life and humanize him in a way no writer before him has succeeded in doing.” * Publishers Weekly *“Here, in vivid and exciting detail, are all the familiar highlights of Alexander’s career: the battles, the tempestuous relationships, the dazzling ambitions, the mysterious death in Babylon. Mr. Freeman’s ambition, he tells us in his introduction, was ‘to write a biography of Alexander that is first and foremost a story.’ It is one he splendidly fulfills.” * The Wall Street Journal *“Freeman does not hero worship Alexander, and does not paper over his subject’s many faults. At times, Alexander can seem like an almost mythic figure, but, as Freeman shows, he was all too human.” * The Boston Globe *"The greatest victory of the book, however, is Freeman’s storytelling. This biography stands out from others written about Alexander thanks to its smooth flow and interesting narrative. It is, as Freeman hopes, a history book for those readers who are not already experts on Alexander or his world.” * The Saturday Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisThe mysteries of Ancient Egypt, the wonderland of the Pharaohs, have always held the world in awe. Now available in new covers, this volume provides a comprehensive history of this fascinating land from its earliest days to the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. Gardiner presents background on Egyptian language, the writing, the land, its neighbors, and resources, with a special section devoted to the Egyptian method of determining chronological dates. He then follows with a concise history of Egypt from the time of the Old Kingdom, through the Ramesside period, up to the last days of Egyptian independence around 323 B.C. Authoritative andmeticulously researched, Egypt of the Pharaohs is an enticing introduction to the study of this ancient civilization.Trade Review"A magnificent book."--New Statesman "Outstanding, both for the meticulous scholarship for which the author is renowned among Egyptologists and for the humanity and understanding with which he approaches this subject."--Times Literary Supplement "Presented with an authority which cannot be surpassed...with notable frankness, and with a detached enthusiasm...which reflect the long life of a scholar whose vocation has at the same time been his hobby."--The Spectator "A 'must' for students of Egyptian history."--John W. Betlyon, University of North Florida

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Book SynopsisFew personalities from classical antiquity are more famous--yet more poorly understood--than Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt. In this major biography, Duane Roller reveals that Cleopatra was in fact a learned and visionary leader whose overarching goal was always the preservation of her dynasty and kingdom. Roller''s authoritative account is the first to be based solely on primary materials from the Greco-Roman period: literary sources, Egyptian documents (Cleopatra''s own writings), and representations in art and coinage produced while she was alive. His compelling portrait of the queen illuminates her prowess as a royal administrator who managed a large and diverse kingdom extending from Asia Minor to the interior of Egypt, as a naval commander who led her own fleet in battle, and as a scholar and supporter of the arts. Even her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius--the source of her reputation as a supreme seductress who drove men to their doom--were carefully crafted Trade ReviewThis is Cleopatra laid bare without any distractions: a good beginning for readers who know little about her and want to learn more. * History Today *Roller offers a superb panorama of the society and culture of late Ptolemaic Egypt, with vivid sketches of....Cleopatra's Alexandria. * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsPreface ; Abbreviations ; List of Illustrations ; Introduction ; 1. Cleopatra's Ancestry and Background ; 2. The Ptolemaic Heritage and the Entanglement With Rome ; 3. Cleopatra's Youth and Education ; 4. Becoming Queen (51-47 BC) ; 5. Consolidating the Empire (47-40 BC) ; 6. The Peak Years (40-34 BC) ; 7. The Operation of the Kingdom ; 8. Scholarship and Culture at the Court of Cleopatra ; 9. Downfall (34-30 BC) ; Appendices ; Bibliography ; List of Passages Cited ; Index

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Book SynopsisSultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603) was one of the most important rulers in the history of Morocco, which to this day bears the mark of his twenty-five year rule in the sixteenth century. Though famed for his cunning diplomacy in the power struggle over the Mediterranean, and his allegiance with Britain against Spain in the conquest for the newly discovered Americas, he was more than a political and military tactician. A descendent of the Prophet Muhammad himself, al-Mansur was a charismatic religious authority with ambitions to become Caliph and ruler of all Muslims. Spanning four continents, Dr. García-Arenal places this fascinating figure in a context of political intrigue, discovery and military conquest. With insightful analysis, a glossary and a guide to further reading, this book is the ideal introduction to a multifaceted figure who fully deserves the epithet "Maker of the Muslim World".Table of ContentsAcknowledgments INTRODUCTION 1 THE BATTLE OF ALCAZAR Why did the battle take place? The main protagonists at the battle of Alcazar 2 ABD AL-MALIK AND AHMAD BEFORE THE BATTLE OF ALCAZAR Algiers Abd al-Malik’s propaganda Muley Ahmad al-Mansur 3 SIXTEENTH-CENTURY MOROCCO: ITS POPULATION, CITIES, RELIGIOUS ELITES AND ARMY The population of Morocco: Arabs and Berbers The cities The ‘ulama The Sufi brotherhoods Qadiriyya and Shadhiliyya Sharifism The army 4 RENEGADES, MORISCOS AND JEWS Renegades Andalusians or Moriscos Jews 5 DIPLOMACY AND TRADE The Spanish reaction to Alcazar: the captive princes England and the cause of the Portuguese restoration The Barbary Company The Iberian union Cadiz and America The Moroccan embassy to England The sultan’s memorandum Ahmad and El Dorado 6 THE CONQUEST OF WESTERN SUDAN Sudanese gold The Sahara The expedition 7 THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IMPERIAL IDEOLOGY Marrakesh: the capital city and the palace Belief in the Mahdi 8 MESSIANISM AND THE RIVALRY WITH THE OTTOMANS The Millennium and the conquest of Western Sudan Moroccan rivalry with the Ottomans Plague, hunger and war CONCLUSION Sources and Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis* Provides an accessible narrative history of Egypt from earliest human settlement to the time of the first pharoahs. * Explores prehistoric foundations of many traditions evident in Ancient Egypt. * Includes chronology, glossary, bibiliography and numerous illustrations -- ideal for student use. .Trade Review"Egyptologists frequently have little understanding of the prehistoric past, especially the paleolithic periods, and it is commendable that Midant-Reynes has included this overview." International Journal of African Historical Studies "... integrate[s] the prehistory of Egypt and Nubia through into the (Egyptian) Unification period, thus investigating the entire united Nile region and its flanking deserts in a logical but rarely encountered attempt to develop a cohesive picture ... In this the book succeeds admirably." Journal of African HistoryTable of ContentsIllustrations. Preface. Acknowledgements. Translator's Note. Introduction. Part I: The Land of Egypt:. 1. Between the River and the Desert. Part II: The Palaeolithic Period: . 2. The Earliest Evidence for Humans in the Nile Valley. 3. The Beginnings of Cultural Diversity. 4. Diversity or Nilotic Adaptation. Part III: The Neolithic Period:. 5. The Process of 'Neolithicization'. 6. The Neolithic Period (Fifth Millennium BC). Part IV: The Approach to the Pharaonic Period (Fourth Millennium BC): . 7. The Predynastic Period (c. 4000-3000 BC). 8. The First Pharaohs and the Unification of the Two Lands. Conclusion. Appendix 1: Relative Chronology and the Traditional Dating Systems. Appendix 2: 'Absolute Dates'. Glossary. Abbreviations. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book is an introduction to the war machine of New Kingdom Egypt from c. 1575 bc1100 bc. Focuses on the period in which the Egyptians created a professional army and gained control of Syria, creating an Empire of Asia. Written by a respected Egyptologist. Highlights new technological developments, such as the use of chariots and siege technology. Considers the socio-political aspects of warfare, particularly the rise to power of a new group of men. Evaluates the military effectiveness of the Egyptian state, looking at the logistics of warfare during this period. Incorporates maps and photographs, a chronological table, and a chart of dynasties and pharaohs Trade Review"For anyone interested in Egyptian military history, and wanting to learn more than the simple dry facts and the well-known major battles, then this book is an absolute must. The author is to be congratulated on this major contribution to our knowledge of warfare in ancient Egypt, presented in a very readable book, suitable for the beginner as well as the real enthusiast." Ancient Egypt "A very handy and innovative introduction on the war machine of New Kingdom Egypt (ca. 1550-1070 BC)... shows a thorough familiarity with the ancient sources and relevant literature on military topics, ancient and modern... Spalinger's book is a stimulating and highly competent study no one who deals with New Kingdom warfare should overlook." Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewTable of ContentsList of Figures viii List of Maps x Acknowledgements xi Preface xiii Chronology xvi 1 Prelude to New Kingdom Warfare 1 2 The System of Early Dynasty XVIII: Technological and Physical Constraints 32 3 Southern and Northern Expansion 46 4 Social and Religious Implications of the New Military system 70 5 The Battle of Megiddo and its Result 83 6 The Pharaoh on Campaign: Ideal and Real 101 7 The Later Military Situation in Asia and at Home 110 8 Egyptian Imperialism and Thutmose III 130 9 Dynasty XVIII: Warfare and Economy 140 10 The Amarna Letters and War 160 11 The Influence of the Egyptian Military from Late Dynasty XVIII to Dynasty XIX 169 12 Early Dynasty XIX 187 13 To Kadesh and After 209 14 Merenpath and Ramesses III 235 15 Egypt on the Defensive 249 16 The Social System of the Military in the Ramesside Period 264 General Bibliography 278 Index 282

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Book SynopsisExploring Religion in Ancient Egypt offers a stimulating overview of the study of ancient Egyptian religion by examining research drawn from beyond the customary boundaries of Egyptology and shedding new light on entrenched assumptions. .Trade Review“This book provides a new and rather different view of religious practice amongst the ancient Egyptians, drawing on an extensive range of texts, artefacts, contextual information, and anthropological approaches from outside Egypt.” (Ancient Egypt, 1 April 2015)Table of ContentsPreface vi 1 Belief without a Book 1 2 Finding the Sacred in Space and Time 38 3 Creating Sacred Space and Time: Temple Architecture and Festival 80 4 Chaos and Life: Forces of Creation and Destruction 110 5 Being Good: Doing, Saying, and Making Good Possible 150 6 Being Well 177 7 Attaining Eternal Life: Sustenance and Transformation 201 Bibliography 238 Index 256

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Book SynopsisWith its emphasis on the dynasty''s concern for control of the sea both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and the Nile, this book offers a new and original perspective on Ptolemaic power in a key period of Hellenistic history. Within the developing Aegean empire of the Ptolemies, the role of the navy is examined together with that of its admirals. Egypt''s close relationship to Rhodes is subjected to scrutiny, as is the constant threat of piracy to the transport of goods on the Nile and by sea. Along with the trade in grain came the exchange of other products. Ptolemaic kings used their wealth for luxury ships and the dissemination of royal portraiture was accompanied by royal cult. Alexandria, the new capital of Egypt, attracted poets, scholars and even philosophers; geographical exploration by sea was a feature of the period and observations of the time enjoyed a long afterlife.Table of ContentsPreface; In memoriam F. W. Walbank Christian Habicht; 1. Introduction Kostas Buraselis and Dorothy J. Thompson; 2. The Ptolemaic League of Islanders Andrew Meadows; 3. Callicrates of Samos and Patroclus of Macedon: champions of Ptolemaic thalassocracy Hans Hauben; 4. Rhodes and the Ptolemaic kingdom: the commercial infrastructure Vincent Gabrielsen; 5. Polybius and Ptolemaic sea power Andrew Erskine; 6. Ptolemaic grain, seaways and power Kostas Buraselis; 7. Waterborne recruits: the military settlers of Ptolemaic Egypt Mary Stefanou; 8. Our academic visitor is missing: Posidippus 89 (A-B) and 'smart capital' for the thalassocrats Paul McKechnie; 9. Aspects of the diffusion of Ptolemaic portraiture overseas Olga Palagia; 10. Ptolemies and piracy Lucia Criscuolo; 11. The Nile police in the Ptolemaic period Thomas Kruse; 12. Hellenistic royal barges Dorothy J. Thompson; 13. Eudoxus of Cyzicus and Ptolemaic exploration of the sea route to India Christian Habicht; 14. Timosthenes and Eratosthenes: sea routes and Hellenistic geography Francesco Prontera; 15. Claudius Ptolemy on Egypt and East Africa Klaus Geus.

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Book SynopsisIn Ritual Sites and Religious Rivalries in Late Roman North Africa, Lander examines the rhetorical and physical battles for sacred space between practitioners of traditional Roman religion, Christians, and Jews of late Roman North Africa. By analyzing literary along with archaeological evidence, Lander provides a new understanding of ancient notions of ritual space. This regard for ritual sites above other locations rendered the act or mere suggestion of seizing and destroying them powerful weapons in inter-group religious conflicts. Lander demonstrates that the quantity and harshness of discursive and physical attacks on ritual spaces directly correlates to their symbolic value. This heightened valuation reached such a level that rivals were willing to violate conventional Roman norms of property rights to display spatial control. Moreover, Roman Imperial policy eventually appropriated spatial triumphalism as a strategy for negotiating religious conflicts, giving rise to a new form of spatial colonialism that was explicitly religious.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Scaffolding; 1. Foundational assumptions; 2. Christian perceptions of communal places; 3. Internecine Christian contestation; 4. Christian supersession of traditional Roman temples; 5. Christian supersession of synagogues; Conclusion. Ritual spatial control, authority, and identification.

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Book SynopsisThe themes of sedentarisation, urbanisation and state formation are fundamental ones in the archaeology of many diverse parts of the world but have been little explored in relation to early societies of the Saharan zone. Moreover, the possibility has rarely been considered that the precocious civilisations bordering this vast desert were interconnected by long-range contacts and knowledge networks. The orthodox opinion of many of the key oasis zones within the Sahara is that they were not created before the early medieval period and the Islamic conquest of Mediterranean North Africa. Major claims of this volume are that the ultimate origins of oasis settlements in many parts of the Sahara were considerably earlier, that by the first millennium AD some of these oasis settlements were of a size and complexity to merit the categorisation ''towns'' and that a few exceptional examples were focal centres within proto-states or early state-level societies.Table of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Introduction to the themes of sedentarisation, urbanisation and state formation in the ancient Sahara and beyond David J. Mattingly and Martin Sterry; Part II. Oasis Origins in the Sahara: A Region-By-Region Survey: 2. Garamantian oasis settlements in Fazzan David J. Mattingly, Stefania Merlo, Lucia Mori and Martin Sterry; 3. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the eastern Sahara David J. Mattingly, Martin Sterry, Louise Rayne and Muftah Al-Haddad; 4. The urbanisation of Egypt's western desert under Roman rule Anna Lucille Boozer; 5. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the northern Sahara David J. Mattingly, Martin Sterry, Muftah Al-Haddad and Pol Trousset; 6. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the north-western Sahara Martin Sterry, David J. Mattingly and Youssef Bokbot; 7. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the southern Sahara Martin Sterry and David J. Mattingly; 8. Discussion: sedentarisation and urbanisation in the Sahara Martin Sterry and David J. Mattingly; Part III. Neighbours and Comparanda: 9. Early states and urban forms in the middle Nile David N. Edwards; 10. Mediterranean urbanisation in North Africa: Greek, Punic and Roman models Andrew I. Wilson; 11. Numidian state formation in the Tunisian High Tell Joan Sanmartí, Nabil Kallala, Maria Carme Belarte, Joan Ramon, Francisco José Cantero, Dani López, Marta Portillo and Sílvia Valenzuela; 12. The origins of urbanisation and structured political power in Morocco: indigenous phenomenon or foreign colonisation? Youssef Bokbot; 13. Architecture and settlement growth on the southern edge of the Sahara: timing and possible implications for interactions with the north Kevin C. Macdonald; 14. Long-distance exchange and urban trajectories in the first millennium AD: case studies from the middle Niger and middle Senegal River valleys Susan Keech Mcintosh; 15. First millennia BC/AD fortified settlements at Lake Chad: implications for the origins of urbanisation and state formation in sub-Saharan Africa Carlos Magnavita; 16. At the dawn of Sijilmasa: new historical focus on the process of emergence of a Saharan state and a caravan city Chloé Capel; 17. The early Islamic trans-Saharan market towns of West Africa Sam Nixon; 18. Urbanisation, inequality and political authority in the Sahara Judith Scheele; Part IV. Concluding Discussion: 19. State-formation in the Sahara and beyond David J. Mattingly and Martin Sterry.

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Book SynopsisSlavery and the British Empire provides a clear overview of the entire history of British involvement with slavery and the slave trade, from the Cape Colony to the Caribbean. The book combines economic, social, political, cultural, and demographic history, with a particular focus on the Atlantic world and the plantations of North America and the West Indies from the mid-seventeenth century onwards. Kenneth Morgan analyses the distribution of slaves within the empire and how this changed over time; the world of merchants and planters; the organization and impact of the triangular slave trade; the work and culture of the enslaved; slave demography; health and family life; resistance and rebellions; the impact of the anti-slavery movement; and the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807 and of slavery itself in most of the British empire in 1834. As well as providing the ideal introduction to the history of British involvement in the slave trade, this book also shows just how deeply Trade ReviewA first rate-work that deserves much praise. * Jeremy Black, History. *A clear overview of the entire history of British involvement with slavery and the slave trade * Spartacus Review *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction ; 1. Slavery and the Slave Trade ; 2. Merchants and Planters ; 3. The Triangular Trade ; 4. Slave Demography and Family Life ; 5. Work, Law, and Culture ; 6. Slave Resistance and Rebellion ; 7. The Abolition of the British Slave Trade ; 8. Slave Emancipation ; Epilogue ; Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisScholars of the Hebrew Bible have in the last decade begun to question the historical accuracy of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus. The reason for the rejection of the exodus tradition is said to be the lack of historical and archaeological evidence in Egypt. Those advancing these claims, however, are not specialists in the study of Egyptian history, culture, and archaeology. In this pioneering book, James Hoffmeier examines the most current Egyptological evidence and argues that it supports the biblical record concerning Israel in Egypt.Trade ReviewThis book is an excellent source to use in conjunction with one's study of Exodus, a "must by" for all evangelical professors of Old Testament studies as well as pastors and Bible teachers interested in information regarding the historical reliability of the Israelites' existence in Egypt. Because of the wealth of information and documentation provided in this book, there is truely no other book of its kind. * mark Rooker, Faith and Mission, Vol.17, No.3, Summer 2000. *"This is historical research at its best, with constant attention to primary sources...[Hoffmeier] retains a broad perspective and leaves no stone unturned in his quest to have the epigraphic and archeological evidence shed light on the biblical record of Israel's sojourn in and exodus from Egypt."--Gary Rendsburg, Cornell University

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Book SynopsisDeir el-Medina, the village of the workmen who built the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, is a uniquely rich source of information about life in Egypt between 1539 and 1075 BC. The abundant archaeological remains are complemented by tens of thousands of texts documenting the thoughts and activities of the villagers. Many of the texts are written on papyrus but most are on flakes of limestone which, being free and readily available, were used for even the most casual and temporary of records. They include private letters, administrative accounts, magic spells, records of purchases, last wills and testaments, laundry lists, and love songs. The value of these rare glimpses of daily life is greatly enhanced by the concentration of texts in one time and place.This book combines translations of over 200 of these texts spanning the entire range of preserved genres with stunning illustrations. The reader will, therefore, be able to experience the life of the villagers through their own words whilst viewing places known to each individual writer. Each text is introduced by a commentary that provides the context and explains the contribution each text makes to our understanding of Egyptian society at this period.Trade ReviewThis is one of the best volumes on Deir El Medina, and is an outstanding scholarly achievement, certain to prove useful to Egyptologists and historian alike. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

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Book SynopsisIan Shaw is Professor of Archaeology, University of Chester, UK. His books include Egyptology: A Very Short Introduction (2004) and Hatnub: Quarrying Travertine in Ancient Egypt (2008).Trade ReviewThis is a readable and thought-provoking volume from which students and professional Egyptologists will benefit. The use of theory is welcome, but the main impact of the book is its continuation of the theme of establishing an "Egyptological" theory of materials and technology. -- Paul T. Nicholson, Cardiff University, UK * The Historian *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements List of illustrations Chronology Introduction: towards an explicitly anthropological analysis of technological change and innovation in ancient Egypt Analysing Egyptian Technological Dynamics - was Egyptian technology underpinned and framed by 'science'? Writing: human communication as social technology Medicine, Magic and Pharmacy: the fusion of science and religion Stone-working: the synthesis of traditional chaînes opératoires and ideological innovations Mummification and Glass-working: issues of definition and process Chariot Production: technical choice and socio-political change Military Hardware: the east Mediterranean knowledge economy and the emergence of the Iron Age in Egypt Technology Embedded in Urban Society: finding the individual in the general Conclusion Appendix 1: Measuring space Appendix 2: Measuring time Appendix 3: Astronomy and astrology Abbreviations Bibliography Index

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