Ancient Egypt in 101 Questions and Answers - by Thomas Schneider (Hardcover)

About the Book

A new way of looking at all aspects of ancient Egypt--from history, art, and everyday life to religion and ancient attitudes to death and the afterlife.

Book Synopsis

How well do we really know ancient Egypt? The world of the Egyptians seems strangely familiar to us: exhibitions of ancient art and archaeological discoveries in the desert sands continue to generate interest and amazement, while Egyptian motifs appear in architecture, literature, artworks, advertising, and film. Yet, this modern reception can sometimes preserve the myths and inaccuracies about ancient Egypt that derive from classical antiquity and the Renaissance. It is only in the past two hundred years that we have been able to read for ourselves ancient Egyptian texts and to reveal the true nature of its civilization through excavation. This modern discovery of ancient Egypt is now astonishing us with a culture of incomparable richness and remarkable diversity.In this book, the internationally acclaimed Egyptologist Thomas Schneider asks, "What are the 101 most important questions about ancient Egypt?" The questions he has chosen--and the answers he provides--challenge almost everything we thought we knew about the ancient civilization in the Nile valley. They range from the surprising ("Why did upper-class Egyptians never wear a beard?") to the profound ("Was ancient Egypt a culture of death?") and the provocative ("What do we not know about ancient Egypt?"). Schneider's answers will surprise, inspire, and challenge a wide range of readers. Ancient Egypt in 101 Questions and Answers provides a completely fresh way of looking at all aspects of ancient Egypt--from history, art, and everyday life to religion and ancient attitudes to death and the afterlife.

Review Quotes

"In conclusion, the wide-ranging assortment of topics and the question-and-answer format will likelyappeal to the casual reader who does not look for structure or background information on ancientEgypt. It may also be useful to a specialist who wishes to gather fresh ideas for teaching material; itprovides a window into the types of questions that occur to students but are perhaps forgotten by thosewho have spent years in specialized study. Certain topics are indeed intriguing, and for those whofind themselves teaching, lecturing, or writing for the general public, it is worth perusing Schneider'sanswers to some of the fundamental questions of Egyptology." -- Lindsay Ambridge, Journal of the American Oriental Society

Ancient Egypt, with its pharaohs, pyramids, and mummies, never ceases to fascinate. Employing a question-and-answer format, this handy volume provides a wealth of information about ancient Egyptian history, society, religion, and more. For example, did ancient Egyptian women have equal rights? How was the Great Pyramid built? The answers, ranging in length from one to three pages, are engagingly and accessibly written and invite further research.... It is highly recommended for the circulating shelves of most academic and public libraries.

Schneider provides an illuminating introduction to Egyptology for the nonspecialist.

About the Author

Thomas Schneider is Professor of Egyptology and Near Eastern Studies at the University of British Columbia. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Egyptian History and Near Eastern Archaeology.