Robert Morkot paints a vivid picture of the origins, history and culture of the ancient Egyptians with chapters on dynasties, empires, society, daily life, religion, art and architecture, languages and literature. The book also raises and addresses a number of important interprative questions, such as the issues of race and colour of the Egyptians, Egypt's relationship with Africa and the debate about Egypt's 'legacy'. Enjoyable and accessible, this is the ideal introduction to the Egyptians for both students and the interested general reader.

New Kingdom Egypt represented the zenith of Egyptian power and imperial prestige. Between the sixteenth and eleventh centuries BCE the civilization straddling the Nile articulated its renewed self-confidence and self-assertiveness in a quest for fresh dominions in Canaan and Syria; in the colossal statues erected by Ramesses the Great at Abu Simbel; and in the lavish golden tomb treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun. This was the age of Egypt's most famous rulers: of Queen Hatshepsut, who sent trade delegations to the Land of Punt. Of Amenhotep III, under whose aegis Egypt reached the high...