The Egyptian World

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of ancient Egyptian society without the constriction of chronological divisions, and illustrated with previously unpublished photographs and drawings.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

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.