Egypt's Making: The Origins of Ancient Egypt 5000-2000 BC - Softcover

Rice, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415064546 ISBN 13: 9780415064545

Publisher: Routledge, 1991

Synopsis

Egypt's Making examines the first 3000 years of Egyptian history, from c.5000 BC - c.2000 BC, down to the collapse of the old Kingdom. Evoking the magic and wonder of ancient Egypt, Michael Rice explains the essentially African character of the historic Egyptian society, institutions and art. He augments his text with many superb illustrations of the art and architecture of this fascinating and relatively little-known period of Egypt's history.
The book considers the emergence of Egypt's ancient political institutions such as the kingship, and the complex problem of the influences which streamed into the Nile Valley from Western Asia in the late fourth millennium BC. Evidence is reviewed for the existence of connections between Egypt and the Arabian Gulf, including Eastern Arabia and the island of Bahrain in remote antiquity and at times during the Old Kingdom. It is suggested in particular that the art of the early periods throws light directly on the psychology of the people of the time. Early Egypt gives the opportunity to examine one of the very few examples (perhaps the only one) of an important civilization in its pristine state, largely free from external influences, until eventually overwhelmed by them. It also relates some of the precepts of Jungian psychology to the Egyptian personality.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Rice has spent much of his life researching the antiquity of the Near East and has written several books on the archaeology of the Arabian Gulf.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415064546
• ISBN 13: 9780415064545
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 360