Ancient Egypt

The Basics

Donald P Ryan author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:28th Jul '16

£18.99

Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Ancient Egypt cover

Ancient Egypt: The Basics offers an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the history, archaeology and influence of this fascinating civilization. Coverage includes:

  • A survey of Egyptian history from its earliest origins to the coming of Islam
  • Life and death in ancient Egypt
  • Key archaeological discoveries and important characters
  • Egypt’s impact and reception through to the modern day

Lively and engaging, this is an indispensable resource for anyone beginning their studies of Egyptian history, culture and archaeology, and a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the country’s long and captivating past.

“An entertaining and informative introduction to the ancient land of the pharaohs, written with great enthusiasm and humour. New Egyptologists – start here!” - Joyce Tyldesley, The Manchester Museum, UK

“Intrinsically appealing and engrossing, Ryan uses his extensive background in archaeology and Egyptology, along with a refreshing dose of humour, to take readers on an amazing journey through more than 3000 years of Ancient Egyptian history. This must-read book should find its way into every Egyptophile’s reading list, and those who have it will not be able to put it down.” - Monica Bontty, University of Louisiana, USA

"...as an introductory guide for beginners or handy reference for those wishing to put their specialist knowledge into context, this is an essential volume to have on your bookshelf!" - Ancient Egypt magazine


  • Dr. Monica Bontty, University of Louisiana at Monroe

"Ancient Egypt has long captured the imagination of people because of its antiquity, glamour and exciting archaeological finds. In the eyes of many, it is shrouded in mystery and myth. The proposal offers an extremely informative introduction to ancient Egypt. It is a concise and user-friendly book, and exactly what a novice needs to explore the wonders of this fascinating culture at a reasonable price."

  • Joyce Tyldesley, University of Manchester, UK

"My overall opinion of the proposal is very positive. The proposal describes a book which is well-designed within the Basics series - within the confines of word-length, the book will provide an excellent introduction to the key aspects of ancient Egypt and its modern study.

The author is an expert in the field of Egyptology, and so he is more than competent to write on the subject of ancient Egypt. In my experience of his previously published work, he does so in a clear and lively manner. As the brief CV attached to his proposal makes clear, Donald Ryan is well-experienced in producing work which explains the complexities of ancient Egypt, and the work of Egyptologists, to a wide general readership without losing authority."

  • Stacy Davidson, Johnson County Community College

"There are many introductory texts on ancient Egypt and most cover the same material. However, the author’s tone and how the material is presented are usually the most important factors for holding a reader’s attention. Dr. Ryan is a prolific author and is knowledgeable on how to sustain the interest of a general audience."

ISBN: 9781138641518

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 226g

224 pages