A brilliant account of this fascinating time in history that no-one interested in the subject should be without. ( )

Les incessantes révisions qu'opère l'égyptologie - une discipline somme toute récente - sont parfois longues à sortir du milieu des spécialistes. Ainsi, pour la plupart, avons-nous, de la civilisation du Nil, une vision quelque peu traditionnelle et conventionnelle, le plus souvent tributaire de découvertes et de travaux remontant aux années 50 et 60, alors que des avancées décisives ont eu lieu depuis. De ces acquis anciens et nouveaux un égyptologue propose ici une synthèse à la fois vivante et savante, portant sur l'ensemble de l'histoire de la terre des Pharaons (depuis la préhistoire jusqu'à la conquête d'Alexandre). Etayée sur la chronologie la plus sûre à ce jour et nourrie des informations livrées par un matériel archéologique de plus en plus abondant, elle fait une large part - et c'est là une de ses principales nouveautés - à l'économie, à la linguistique, à l'anthropologie, etc., à côté d'approches plus classiques comme le récit des événements et l'évocation des figures marquantes. Abondamment illustré et enrichi de nombreux textes égyptiens, cet ouvrage ambitionne de donner à l'honnête homme de notre temps, au voyageur, à l'étudiant une connaissance approfondie de la plus ancienne et assurément, la plus prestigieuse des civilisations du Bassin méditerranéen.

This is a well-written book and the English translation is excellent. But it needs to be said that this is a history of Egyptian pharaohs with a particular emphasis on power struggles and building projects. The pharaonic succession is recounted in detail, and the layout of several temples and monuments is presented in the text and the figures.

Other aspects of ancient Egyptian society, such as the organisation of the economy, administration, law, the military, the hieroglyphs or religious beliefs and worldviews are not even mentioned in this book. All topics involving the ordinary people of Egypt have been ignored.

As a result, this book takes a very narrow look at ancient Egypt when it focuses exlusively on dynastic politics and archeological monuments. There's nothing wrong with that, but in my opinion a more suitable title for this book would have been 'A history of Egyptian pharaohs and their buildings'.

A History of Ancient Egypt, a translation from the original French, is an excellent and readable introduction to Egyptian History. It provides an overview of the major political and social events in Egypt beginning with a brief survey of prehistory and ending with the conquest by Alexander the Great. The book covers the old, middle, and new kingdoms as well as the intermediate periods and ends with two chapters on the Nubian/Saite and Persian/Greek periods. It also includes a chapter on the "invasion" of the Hyksos as well as chapter describing the religious changes made by Akhenaten.

The book's great strength is its readability and continuity. While other histories of Egypt often get bogged down in archeological details, Grimal's work connects the dots in a smooth and engaging narrative style. It may be that he occasionally glosses the fine points to provide continuity, but having read more detailed texts (Oxford History of Ancient Egypt), I believe his book provides a clearer picture for the beginner.

This is not to say that the book lacks accuracy but scholars of Egyptian history will no doubt have their difficulties with some of Grimal's details. The book was first published in 1988 and, as such, is slightly out of date. Grimal also tends to use Greek names for most pharaohs as well many place names ie. Cheops instead of Khufu for the builder of the great pyramid. This can be a little confusing to the inexperienced reader if they have previously encountered other variants.

While the book covers the major political events in ancient Egypt, the inclusion of chapters explaining the Egyptian system of religious beliefs, funerary practices and a long description of the temple complexes at Karnak provide much needed background. The plates (all black and white) in the book are adequate, although often the maps lack detail. For the interested reader I would recommend "Le Description de L'Egypte", put out by Benedikt Taschen Verlag. This book, a beautiful collection of paintings, architectural drawings and maps, produced by a team commissioned by Napoleon, fills in many of the visual details missing in Grimal's work.

I would strongly recommend "A History of Ancient Egypt" to the casual reader, interested in Egyptian history, who does not want to be swamped with details. For the more scholarly it includes a brief glossary, a chronology of dynasties, an extensive bibliography, annotated suggestions for further reading and a fairly detailed index. Because of this it might also be useful as an introductory text in Egyptology, but given its age and narrative style, it will likely not be the first choice of experienced Egyptologists. ( )

Political and economic history of the Egyptians from 120,000 BC to the appearance of Alexander the Great in 331 BC.

Curiously, the "French" Egyptologists differ from the English (cf qv Budge) in
their consistent disregard of the symbolist "religious" emphasis.

Lots of information pertinent to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic apologetics, none of it helpful. The people known to Egyptians as "Apiru" [Hebrew] appear in Egyptian records, from the time of Tuthmosis III, and well-attested under Ramesses II, as employed in the transport of stone. Leiden Papyrus 348, cf Papuyrus Harris I, working quarries of Wadi Hammamat during reign of Ramesses IV. Nowhere is a revolt mentioned [258], although these are richly documented reigns. And "no surviving Egyptian source describes the Exodus". [258] The only evidence of a newly-formed kingdom of Israel is a stele, dated to the fifth years of the reign of Merneptah. KRI IV, 12-19. [258]

Egyptians were very much involved in the struggles in the Levant. Specifically, they provided sanctuary for Hadad, the crown prince of Edom, whose kingdom was conquered by David. Hadad married an Egyptian, and raised his son Genubath at the royal court. When David died, "Hadad returned to his kingdom". [319]

During the reign of Solomon, Egypt intervened against the Philistines by laying waste the city of Gezer, an event recorded in 1 Kings 9:16 and perhaps recorded in a relief at Tanis. [319]. Philistines were interfering with trade with Phoenicia. The Pharoah Siamun may have attacked because the Philistines were weak after wars against David, and during the "uncertainty occasioned by the accession of Solomon in Israel". [Author speculation at 319].

I disagree, and can only remain dismayed by the lack of Biblical corroboration. The author(s) fail to explain the lack of corroboration in Solomon's marriage to an Egyptian princess, which would be unprecedented in the Nile valley.

The author concludes his history at the conquest by Alexander as the new "Master of the Universe" -- the new Son of Man worshiped as a God. [382-383] The arrival of the Macedonians marked the end of the political autonomy of Egypt. The Mediterranean region was completely transformed.

The Greeks, and even the Romans, "kept up at least a semblance" of Egyptian traditions, including their trinitarian gods.[383, 315] Interestingly, the author concludes with a frank and clear showing of the "mixtures" and absorptions which took place in Egypt. This is a testimony to the lack of "purity" or "untouched sanctity" anywhere in the delta or at its influences: Egypt is a mix, a melting pot, and a fertile mother.