• Written by one of the foremost authorities on Ancient Egypt
• Considers all aspects of ancient Egyptian culture, from tombs and mummies to the discovery of artefacts, and the decipherment of hieroglyphs
• Includes information based on personal archaeological research and fieldwork
• Uses an iconic protodynastic object - the Narmer Palette - to provide an exciting framework for this general discussion of pharaonic Egypt

New to this Edition:

• Includes a new chapter on the impact of the Arab Spring on approaches to Egyptian museums and cultural heritage
• Takes into account recent archaeological discoveries and the latest scholarship on Ancient Egypt
• Incorporates new research on chronology, particularly the use of radiocarbon dating
• Includes a new sThe ancient Egyptians are an enduring source of fascination — mummies and pyramids, curses and rituals have captured the imagination of generations. We all have a mental picture of ancient Egypt, but is it the right one? How much do we really know about this great civilization?

   
This second edition of Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction explores the history and culture of pharaonic Egypt, inlcuding ideas about Egyptian kingship, ancient Egyptian writing systems, and the history of Egyptology. Ian Shaw introduces the reader to issues relating to ethnicity, race, gender, and sexual relations; the latest ideas about death, funerary rites and mummification; and thoughts on religion and ethics in ancient Egypt. He also looks at the phenomenon of Egyptomania, whereby certain books and films have sensationalised aspects of Egyptian culture. Finally, Shaw takes the story to the present day by illustrating the impact of the Arab Spring on approaches to Egyptian museums and cultural heritage.ection dealing with same-sex desire