Authoritative and up-to-date, this key single-volume work is a thematic exploration of ancient Egyptian civilization and culture as it was expressed down the centuries.
Including topics rarely covered elsewhere as well as new perspectives, this work comprises thirty-two original chapters written by international experts. Each chapter gives an overview of its topic, and also covers the latest research in the area. Chapters are divided thematically into seven sections, to enable a broader understanding of all the complexities of ancient Egyptian society without the constriction of chronological divisions, and illustrated with previously unpublished photographs and drawings.
Providing fresh perspectives on this ancient culture, a digest of current research trends in Egyptology as well as a unique examination of the Egyptian world, this fascinating title enables students to gain a clear understanding of ancient Egyptian society.
List of Illustrations
List of Contributors
Chronology and king list
Introduction
Toby Wilkinson
Part I: Environments
1 The Nile Valley
David Jeffreys
2 The Delta
Penelops Wilson
3 The deserts
John Darnell
4 The oases
A.J. Mills
5 Urban life
Nadine Moeller
Part II: Institutions
6 The monarchy
Aidan Dodson
7 The administration
Chris Naunron and Karen Exell
8 The temple priesthood
Rosalie David
9 The army
Tony Spalinger
Part III: Economies
10 Agriculture and animal husbandry
Douglas Brewer
11 Craft production and technology
Anna Stevens and Mark Eccleston
12 Labour
Kathlyn M. Cooney
13 State and private enterprise
Edward Bleiberg
14 Land tenure and taxation
Sally Katary
Part IV: Societies
15 Gender and sexuality
T.G. Wilfong
16 Ethnicity and culture
Stuart Tyson Smith
17 Local identities
Fredrik Hagen
18 Morality and ethics
Boyo G. Ockinga
19 Law
Schafik Allam
Part V: Ideologies
20 Kingship
Katja Goebs
21 Creation myths
Lucia Gahlin
22 Temple cults
Emily Teeter
23 Private religion
Lucia Gahlin
24 Afterlife beliefs and burial customs
Salima Ikram
Part VI: Aesthetics
25 Art
Gay Robbins
26 Architecture
Kate Spence
27 Literature
James Allen
Part VII: Interactions
28 Egypt and Nubia
Timothy Kendall
29 Egypt and the Levant
Manfred Bietak
30 Egypt and Mesopotamia
Toby Wilkinson
31 Egypt and the Mediterranean world
Louise Steel
32 Egypt and the modern world
Andrew Bednarski
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Toby Wilkinson is a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeology, University of Durham. His publications include Early Dynastic Egypt, The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, and Lives of the Ancient Egyptians.
"Few books examine the broader topics of ancient Egyptian culture, but that is exactly what this impressive volume does...it should be a must-have and must-read volume for anyone studying ancient Egypt, for there are important subjects covered and explored here, that you will not find easily elsewhere." Ancient Egypt, December 2007
"The Egyptian World is a fine addition to the Routledge Worlds series and will remain an authoritative reference on major topics in Egyptology for many years to come." Robyn A. Gillam, Chronique d'Egypte, 2011
