Editorial Review

Since the 18th century, Greece has been heralded as the cradle of Western civilization, with Plato, Pythagoras, and Thales touted as the world's first philosophers. But as Temple University scholar Molefi Kete Asante writes in this slim, spectacular book, those men all studied in ancient Egypt and took credit for the concepts created by Imhotep, Ahmenhotep, Akhenaton, and other Egyptian intellectuals, scientists, theologians, and moralists. Asante, the major proponent of the concept of Afrocentricity, draws from a number of primary sources to reveal what he claims to be the true origins of medicine, astronomy, ethics, scientific inquiry, and civics. "The antiquity of African philosophy is unique and stands alone and is older than all other philosophies," Asante writes. "It would be much later, nearly two thousand years, before the Greeks, who were influenced by the Egyptians, would develop their philosophy." Read more

Reviews (6)

Buy "The Husia" instead
As much as I support people of African descent reclaiming our stolen heritage (at the hands of Greeks, Persians, Romans, Arabs, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and more)which I think Asante is attempting to do, he does so poorly.
An eye opener
There is no doubt that M.K. Asante is a pioneer and pacesetter in the discovery of ancient African philosophers. And as a matter of fact, anybody that know and understand the history of ancient world and free of prejudice would accept that Africa is the origin of philosophy and civilization.

Intellectual curiosity and rigor
If you prefer revisionist history, this book will mean nothing to you. If, however, you have a scintilla of interest in the possibility that other than white europeans made enormous contributions to this world, you can begin by reading this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Eastern - General    3. General    4. History & Surveys - General    5. Philosophy    6. Philosophy, Egyptian   

Reviews (3)

Caesar's Formidable VI Ironsides
With this third text about Roman legions, Dando-Collins (D-C) has again produced a very good military history. His "Cleopatra's Kidnappers" (2006) is a riveting rendering of the legio VI Ferrata.
Not historical, unless the 'Gladiator' film is historical.
All three of the "Legion Histories" by this author have left this reader severely disappointed, for lack of scholarship, lack of facts and pure ignoring anything that the author doesn't like, no matter how well it is proven epigraphically, archaeologically or by historians who were much closer to the time.
Another must-read for Roman History fans...
I'm a self-educated Roman historian who's writing my own book on the subject. I've read dozens of various books on the Roman Army(armies) alone. Dando-Collins' 3-book (to-date) histories of the Legions are among my favorites.
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Subjects:  1. Alexandrine War, 48-47 B.C    2. Ancient - Egypt    3. Ancient - Rome    4. Caesar, Julius    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Legion VI Ferrata    9. Military leadership    10. Rome.    11. Ancient Rome    12. History / Ancient / Rome   

Reviews (2)

What if........
My girlfriend was intent on taking a trip to Egypt and I have to say that I panicked at the thought of going to a strange country. I was used to holidaying on Spanish islands and other Mediterranean beaches so a trip to such an unknown quantity was needless to say a little daunting.
Very useful travel book
I bought this book in order to help us prepare for our first Egypt trip and I wasn't disappointed, as there is so much useful and interesting info, especially regarding on how to barter with the locals.
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Subjects:  1. Middle East - Egypt    2. Reference - Cruise Guides    3. Reference - General    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Egypt    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Outstanding
This is my favorite Egyptian history book.Lewis in one small volume brings Egypt during the period of Roman rule to life in the pages in front of you.The book draws from thousands of papyrus documents collected in Egypt over the years.As you might expect, these mostly deal with the minutia of daily life, contracts and prayers, polemics and taxes, and Lewis's book uses theses to tell his story.The book is highly readable, enjoyable, and I recomend it to any one with an interest in any period in Egypt (after all, how much did the Nile change between 1000 BC and 300 AD). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 332 B.C.-638 A.D    2. Ancient - Egypt    3. Ancient Egypt - History    4. Civilization    5. Egypt    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Middle East - Egypt    10. Romans    11. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    12. Ancient Egypt    13. Ancient Rome    14. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    15. Prehistory   

Reviews (16)

It all comes together and makes an unforgettable point
Although I was immediately fascinated by the historical and literary detective story of the 12th century Jewish merchant and his Indian servant, I did not fully understand Ghosh's mission in writing this book until nearly at the end. Then it became clear to me. This book is an elegy for a way of life that is forever lost. In the 12th century, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus worked in tandem as traders and merchants, with the only reprisals being angry remonstrances rather than armed violence. What we call sophisticated Western civilization has changed all of that.
A fascinating read.
Amitav Ghosh has for long being a favorite - for his simple and lucid style of writing as well as his wordplay when describing the swirling moods of a changing landscape. He is at his most competentIn an Antique Land.
Brilliant mix of travelogue, biography and history
The narrative weaves between Ghosh's account of a year spent living in modern-day Egypt; and the second storyline, his reconstruction of the fascinating life of a medieval Jewish Arab merchant who travelled to India, married a local woman and settled there.Read more

Subjects:  1. 12th cent    2. Ben Yiju, Abraham,    3. Biography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Egypt    6. Essays & Travelogues    7. General    8. Ghosh, Amitav    9. Jewish merchants    10. Literary    11. Middle East - Egypt    12. Slavery    13. Slaves    14. Travel    15. Travel - General    16. Ben Yijû, Abraham    17. Bomma    18. Journeys    19. Travel / Middle East / General   

Reviews (8)

Top-notch!
What a wonderful book! Magnificient Guide to Egyptian Art
If you want a succint and fascinating guide to understanding Egyptian art then this is for you.Arranged in a most unique style, Wilkinson's book captivates the reader and moves him into a richer understanding of Egypt's language and art.Richly illustrated, this masterpiece for the layman traces the impact that the Egyptian language had upon the ancient forms of art.It provides the reader with some basic information as well as specifics which will assist the layman in understanding and appreciating this great civilization.It moved me to purchase the companion volume which I cannot wait to read.Having been to Egypt twice, I can only say that this book is a MUST for anyone who is planning to travel there.I only wish that I had discovered this book before I went there!The only thing better would be if the author himself led you on a tour to this enchanting land!

Intriguing study
Art language, the signs by which we interpret the meaning of art, is a specialized study. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to approach Egyptian art on a deeper level than a simple visual feast. Prof. Wilkinson has explained many of the common themes used by ancient Egyptian artists in simple terms, so that anyone who cares to read will be able to understand and appreciate the work in depth. I have found this book invaluable. The book is richly illustrated and the line drawings by Troy Sagillo are exquisite. Wilkinson has opened a path for me that I knew was there, but could not find. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Art, Egyptian    5. Hieroglyphics    6. History - Ancient & Classical    7. Ancient World    8. Egypt    9. History of art: BCE to c 500 CE, ancient & classical world    10. Palaeography (history of writing)    11. Reference works   

Reviews (2)

Good attempt but a bit lacking
The images are great both for the historical nature and recreation of the originals and for coloring too.However there is very little in terms of explanations of what the images are and how they represent Egyptian history.The focus is really on tomb images and there needs to be a discussion of the concerns this should create.Once again the illustrations and the text is uncredited.

An excellent show of Egyptian art found in tombs of Egypt.
A good show of the reliefs found in the tombs of the pharaohs depicting everyday life and some Egyptian mythology.A must-have for the middle school world history teacher. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - Coloring Books    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. History - Ancient    4. Juvenile history   

Subjects:  1. History: World    2. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    3. Ancient Egypt   

Reviews (2)

Erroneous
Mr. Budge's ineptitude is a well-known shame; his translations (dare I call them that?!?) are notoriously inaccurate and full of blunders. In fact, most of his texts were regarded even in his day as outdated and flawed. Please, there are too many other splendid translations (I recommend Dr. Faulkner Raymond's "The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day" or Normandi Ellis' "Awakening Osiris : The Egyptian Book of the Dead" - both are gorgeous) available to justify wasting one's money on such a compilation of solecisms as this. Excellent Collection Of Hieroglyphic Information
Taken directly from the papyrus of Ani, an Egyptian scribe, The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a great collection of hieroglyphic information. Everything about the passage into the underworld is described in detail. Not only that, you can also learn some of the Egyptian hieroglyphs as y ou read along with Ani. Give this book a toss inyour shopping cart , all you lovers of Egyptian myth and culture ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. History    4. History: World    5. Middle East - Egypt   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Archaeology    3. Egypt    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Inscriptions, Egyptian    8. Middle East - Egypt    9. Old Kingdom, ca. 2686-ca. 2181 B.C.    10. Sources    11. Translations into English   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. California    4. Classic Art    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    6. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Museum    7. Egypt    8. Gold jewelry    9. Gold jewelry, Hellenistic    10. History - Ancient & Classical    11. Jewelry    12. Los Angeles    13. Permanent Collection Catalogs    14. Ancient Egypt    15. Art & Architecture | History | Ancient    16. Art / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    17. BCE to c 500 CE    18. Classical Greek & Roman archaeology    19. Egyptian archaeology    20. Gold & silversmithing    21. History of art: BCE to c 500 CE, ancient & classical world    22. Jewellery & jewellery-making   

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Art - History    3. Art, Ancient    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Civilization, Ancient    7. Crafts & Hobbies - General    8. Handicraft    9. History    10. History - Ancient    11. Juvenile Arts And Crafts    12. Juvenile Fine Arts    13. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (1)

The mainsprings of early civilisation
Papyrus: 3100BC-AD750; paper: AD750-present; World Wide Web: 1990-future. You are online and reading it now, but only time will tell if Tim Berners-Lee has given us the new papyrus. It has a long way to go before it matches the history of that most important of inventions. Ancient Egypt, famed for all time for its pyramids, had a far more important achievement. Papyrus was used to record taxes, payrolls, sales receipts, laws and legal documents, war records, official administration, personal letters, funerary works, literary works, medical and veterinary works, mathematical works, and blueprints for pyramids. The kings of Egypt controlled its production and they supplied the Greeks, the Romans, and most of the civilised ancient world.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Ancient Egypt Archaeology    3. General    4. History - General History    5. Paleography    6. Papyrus (The plant)    7. Sociology    8. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    9. Social Science / General   

Reviews (5)

great detailed book, but may be more than what some people are looking for...
I am considering a trip to Egypt and wanted a book that gives an overview of archaeological sites in Egypt. This is a detailed and theoretical book about the many pyramids found all over Egypt. The author does try to write in a way to make it fairly readable to a lay person. But it is still heavy reading. It may be more that what some people are looking for... I read the beginning and ending chapters of the book, but only skimmed the middle. My eyes "glazed over", and much of the middle was just more fact and detail than I wanted to know. The beginning and ending chapters are more general about Egyptology. The book does contain many diagrams, photos (black and white), and illustrations that help the detailed info be more easy to visualize and understand.

No colored pictures
A warning to everyone interested in colored pictures. This book has NOT ONE single color picture, except for the cover pic. The theoretical content is great stuff, otherwise, I'm dissapointed. If your interested mainly in pictures, you better take a look at"The Valley of the Kings" and "Tuthankamum, the eternal splendor of the boy Pharaoh"

Excellent
This was exactly what I was looking for in a book about the Egyptian pyramids. This book is the perfect starting point for anyone to begin learning about Egyptian pyramids and ancient Egypt in general. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World   

Reviews (3)

WHY TRASH BUDGE.......THE REAL REASON......
Budge's work is great. Yes, his style of English is out of date and his tranliterations are different. For example, modern writers prefer to transliterate "ntr" as:NEJER or NECHER. Budge uses NETER. Many points of Egyptian grammar remain unclear and much of what passes for "modern translations" are more guess work than actual translations.
Unreliable
This book has only one good thing: it gives original texts in hieroglyphics from various periods of Egypt. But, many scholars have found that Budge's system is outdated and unreliable. So, if you can't decipher hieroglyphics, I wouldn't reccomend buying this book. Most of all, he doesn't even give translations for all the texts! He gives 8 out of the 20 scripts in english. Heck, the guy's been dead for 100 years, and we've made new discoveries in deciphering Ancient Egyptian. There are many other authors on hieroglyphics that are much more accurate in their translations. Don't be like me and waste your money on this horrible book.

Budge Outdated
E.A. Budge was considered a great writer in his day but lately scholars are tending to lean away from his work due to more recent translations that are more accurate that his old ones. If you are looking for a book to learn hieroglyphics from I would try one of the many other ones. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Ancient Languages - General    3. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    4. Foreign Language Study    5. Language    6. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    7. Ancient Egypt   

Reviews (2)

Egypt during the Sadat Years
This book sets a high standard for studies about the Sadat era, and I was very happy to find a used copy in good condition at an affordable price. It will be very useful in my research and writing about modern Egyptian history.

THE resource book for wonks and casual historians alike
Dr. Kirk Beattie's book on Egypt and Sadat is a balanced, authoritative piece of scholarship that isn't weighted with ideology and conjecture. The historical detail is here for diplomats, analysts, political scientists and historians, and so is the broad scope and backgrounding that will benefit the more general reader. Beattie does not write in the dense, impenetrable style necessarily employed by most academics, although his credentials are certainly world-class. Most notably, the scope of his interviews is remarkable, unequaled in any other book on the period. Anyone intersted in comprehending the origins of the ongoing Mideast imbroglio would do well to spend some time with Dr. Beattie's book on Sadat --- as well his previous volume on Egypt under Nasser. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1918-    2. 1918-1981    3. 1970-1981    4. Egypt    5. Egypt - History    6. General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Middle East - Egypt    10. Middle East - General    11. Political History    12. Politics - Current Events    13. Politics / Current Events    14. Politics and government    15. Sadat, Anwar,    16. Political Science / General   

Reviews (1)

Ifa better understanding of is a thrill-then this book is pure ecstasy!
Adnan Musallam puts in a hardback capsule, the understanding of the life and trials of one Muslim Man's growth and struggle's with God in relationship to his fellow man's social structure.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Egypt    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. Islamic Studies    7. Islamic fundamentalism    8. Military    9. Military - Strategy    10. Political    11. Religious    12. Scholars, Muslim    13. Islam    14. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    15. Social Science / Ethnic Studies    16. Theology   

Subjects:  1. 1798-    2. 20th century    3. Anthropology - Cultural    4. Anthropology - General    5. Archaeology / Anthropology    6. Civilization    7. Egypt    8. History    9. Mass media    10. Middle East - Egypt    11. Popular culture    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Egypt--Civilization--1798-    15. Social & cultural anthropology    16. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (5)

Without a Doubt the best book by Geraldine Pinch!
If you are interested in the magical practices of ancient egypt from a historical perspective you can do no wrong to purchase this book.Your copy, like mine, is likely to be leafed through time and time again.
Nicely Done
Lovely pictures, well-written prose, but organizationally not very exciting.It's written for the non-practitioner (which I am), but lacks the imagination of other books on the same subject.

Magic in Ancient Egypt
I found this book very informative and interesting.As a practioner of Egyptian Magic and an Anthropology/Archology student,I found it easy to read,and it covers all aspects of Egyptian Magic. Ms.Pinch uses different texts to back up what she writes about.If you are looking for written ritual it's not in the book,but the information is there for you to write your own if you wish.I highly recomend this book to any one interested in Egyptian Magic.Ms.Pinch shows Egypt as it was a civilization which showed no distinction between everyday life and magic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. Antiquities    3. Egypt    4. Folklore & Mythology    5. History: World    6. Magic, Ancient    7. Magic, Egyptian    8. Magick Studies    9. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    10. New Age / Parapsychology    11. Occult Sciences    12. African history: BCE to c 500 CE    13. Ancient Egypt    14. Ancient Egyptian religion    15. Social Science / Folklore & Mythology   

Reviews (1)

Ancient wisdom made accessible
The world of ancient Egypt was home to a deep and richly intricatespiritual tradition.This is readily apparent in ancient Egyptianiconography, but for most people, those arcane symbols remain a closedbook.Lucy Lamy's book is a masterpiece that opens these ancient vaults ofwisdom to the modern reader.I found extraordinary spiritual insights inwhat I have previously seen as a dry and opaque tradition.After the essayin part one, part two ("Plates") and part three ("Themes") present imageswith text explaining where they fit into Ms. Lamy's analysis.Having readthe essay, the images made sense - I understood where they fit in thiselaborate mythological system.If you have ever been captivated by, buthave failed to understand, Egyptian iconography, this is the perfect bookfor you.I also highly recommend this book to anyone interested in thehistory of esoteric spiritual traditions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient Egyptian Religion    2. Art, Egyptian    3. Comparative Religion    4. Egypt    5. Eqypt    6. General    7. History: American    8. Mythology, Egyptian    9. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    10. Religion