The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, stands as a comprehensive and meticulously crafted volume, offering a deep dive into the history of ancient Egypt. This book covers an extensive period, from approximately 700,000 BC to AD 311, and resurrects a fascinating society with remarkable historical information.
The book investigates various facets of ancient Egyptian civilization, including the ever-changing nature of life and death in the Nile valley and some of the earliest masterpieces of art, architecture, and literature in the ancient world.
The authors, an international team of experts at the cutting edge of their fields, outline the principal sequence of political events. They also provide 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. Moreover, the book examines cultural and social patterns, including stylistic developments in art and literature.
This segmentation is quite useful in keeping aspects of the history straight in one's mind. While it is known that Egypt wasn't a single culture through time, this book provides a wonderful cure for that problem.
Each chapter is loaded with interesting pictures, drawings, color plates, and maps. Each chapter has a section for further reading in the back of the book.
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Key Features of the Book
- Comprehensive Coverage: From prehistoric times to the end of the Roman Empire.
- Expert Contributors: Written by leading Egyptologists.
- In-depth Analysis: Explores political, social, economic, and cultural aspects.
- Up-to-Date Scholarship: Incorporates the latest archaeological evidence and studies.
- Richly Illustrated: Includes pictures, drawings, color plates, and maps.
Map of Ancient Egypt
The book is not without its criticisms. Some reviewers note that the print is rather small and the maps are tiny, which can be problematic. Additionally, some inaccuracies have been pointed out, such as the claim that the last monarch of the 6th Dynasty was Queen Nitiqret, when it was actually King Netjerkare Siptah I. Despite these minor issues, the book remains a highly recommended resource.
Detailed Exploration of Key Periods
The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt offers detailed insights into specific periods and events, providing a nuanced understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The Second Intermediate Period
One particularly interesting section of the book is the discussion of the Second Intermediate Period, roughly between 1750 and 1550 BCE. This period has been the subject of much debate among historians and archaeologists, particularly concerning the identity and role of the "Hyksos."
For decades, the prevailing view was that ancient Egypt was occupied by a foreign people, the Hyksos, who invaded and enslaved the native population. The term "Hyksos" is a Greek transcription of the Egyptian term 'Hekau Khasut', literally "rulers from foreign lands".
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However, toward the end of the twentieth century, a new understanding emerged, suggesting that this representation was largely propagandistic, created by the 'counter-empire' in Upper Egypt (Thebes). This perspective portrayed the Hyksos as the 'aamu', or Asians, and was rooted in xenophobia.
Some scholars even went so far as to dismiss the Hyksos story as a myth. However, Jeanine Bourriau offers a more nuanced account in The Oxford History.
Bourriau emphasizes that large groups of immigrants from the Levant and Upper Mesopotamia gradually settled in the Delta area (Lower Egypt) at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE. These immigrants integrated into Egyptian culture, creating a unique Egyptian-Levantine or Egyptian-Canaanite culture. From this perspective, the term "Hyksos" remains a legitimate way to describe this distinct cultural period.
It is crucial, however, not to label the culture of Upper Egypt as the only "real" Egyptian culture. Bourriau's analysis introduces a valuable nuance to the understanding of this complex period.
The Amarna Period
Another fascinating chapter explores the Amarna Period (c. 1352-1336 BCE), during which Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, later known as Akhenaten, implemented radical changes. These included moving the capital to Amarna and imposing the worship of the solar disc as the sole permitted cult.
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In the 19th and 20th centuries, this period was often interpreted as a failed experiment in monotheism, with connections drawn to the Hebrews. However, modern scholars have largely abandoned this view.
Jacobus Van Dijk notes that a trend toward building a state religion around the sun god had already begun among Amenhotep's predecessors, anticipating the Amarna reforms. While this thesis is not universally accepted, there is a general consensus that a gradual transition occurred in the second half of the second millennium BCE. This transition shifted the religious experience from one mediated almost exclusively through the pharaoh to a more personal, direct relationship between the individual believer and the deity.
The rise of votive culture, with offerings made to please the deity, is seen as part of this evolution. While these developments may seem ethereal from a secularized modernist viewpoint, they represent a very interesting evolution and highlight how much remains to be discovered about ancient Egyptian culture.
Historiographical Approach
The book serves as an introduction to Egyptian historiography and to the nature of the study of ancient history almost as much as it serves as an introduction to ancient Egypt itself. The multi-author approach allows the reader insight into the nature of research for each stage of Egyptian history: the reader gets a sense of the way in which research is conducted, the modes of analysis applied, and the style and terms of discussion.
Critical Reception
As usual in the Oxford History-series, this compilation offers a good overview of ancient Egyptian history, always by specialists and therefore scientifically sound. On the positive side, it is well edited. Not a volume for those with no prior interest or study of history outside of high school.
If a reader is just beginning to wonder about ancient Egyptian history, they should hold off reading this and pick up a few of the basic historical atlases first to acclimate and educate themselves on some of the ways we've deduced the knowledge collected in this book. Examples of what to read before this would be "The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations" or "The New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History". They'll prime a beginner for the greater depth and focus offered in this excellent survey.
The Enduring Legacy
In the final chapters of The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Shaw reflects on the enduring legacy of ancient Egypt. He examines the revival of interest in Egyptian culture during the Renaissance, the decipherment of hieroglyphs, and the influence of ancient Egypt on modern art, architecture, and popular culture.
In conclusion, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt provides a comprehensive and engaging account of one of the world's most fascinating ancient civilizations. If you only want to read one book on Egypt, then read this one."
The following table shows the timeline of Ancient Egypt:
| Period | Approximate Dates | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Early Dynastic Period | c. 3100-2686 BCE | Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, emergence of complex societies |
| Old Kingdom | c. 2686-2181 BCE | Construction of pyramids, centralized administration |
| First Intermediate Period | c. 2181-2055 BCE | Political instability, fragmentation of power |
| Middle Kingdom | c. 2055-1650 BCE | Cultural and artistic renaissance, territorial expansion |
| Second Intermediate Period | c. 1650-1550 BCE | Foreign rule (Hyksos), internal strife |
| New Kingdom | c. 1550-1069 BCE | Golden age, powerful pharaohs, territorial expansion |
| Third Intermediate Period | c. 1069-664 BCE | Political fragmentation, foreign invasions |
| Late Period | c. 664-332 BCE | Assyrian and Persian conquests |
| Ptolemaic Period | c. 332-30 BCE | Hellenistic influence, blending of Egyptian and Greek cultures |
| Roman Period | c. 30 BCE-395 AD | Roman rule, decline of ancient Egyptian religion |
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