Ancient Egypt: Foundations of a Civilization

by Brewer,Douglas J.

• ISBN13: 9780582772533
• ISBN10: 0582772532
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2005-11-29
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

' . . . This is a most welcome book, which will fill a gap in the study of early Egypt . . .''The author - has sprinkled his narrative with anecdotes from his own archaeological expeditions make the text lively and entertaining, elevating his book from mere description to a highly personal and approachable account.' 'This is a skillful survey which will benefit many different kinds of readers. I highly recommend it.' Ronald J. Leprohon, Professor of Egyptology, University of Toronto Have you ever wondered who built the pyramids and why? What life was like for the earliest Egyptians? When and how hieroglyphic writing developed? How Egyptian civilization changed through time? What religion the ancient Egyptians practiced? The answers to all these questions lie deep in Egypt's past.

Author Biography

Douglas J Brewer is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois and Director of the Spurlock Museum.  He has written many books including  the bestselling Egypt and the Egyptians and articles on Egypt. He has also spent 20 years involved in fieldwork projects in Egpyt - from the eastern desert to the Nile Valley.

Table of Contents

List of figures, boxes and plates	vi
Acknowledgements	xiv
Publisher's acknowledgements	xv
Introduction	1	(2)
Archaeology, Egyptology and prehistory: How we know what we know	3	(14)
Archaeology and Egyptian prehistory	17	(11)
Environmental reflections	28	(16)
The Paleolithic: A desert in bloom	44	(17)
The Neolithic: An agricultural revolution and new way of life	61	(11)
The Predynastic Period: Egypt in its infancy	72	(37)
The Late Predynastic: Naqada III and the quest for power	109	(16)
In search of Egypt's first Pharaoh	125	(19)
Early Dynastic life	144	(30)
New horizons	174	(30)
Bibliography	204	(5)
Index	209