Antiguo Egipto

by Paul Johnson

La antigua civilizacion egipcia, con su legado de piramides, faraones y esfinges, es una tierra de poder y misterio para el mundo moderno. En antiguo Egipto, Paul Johnson explora el desarrollo y el ocaso de una cultura que sobrevivio durante tres mil anos mientras mantenia una pureza de estilo que no ha sido igualada.Su estilo ameno y agil le permite cubrir temas tan amplios como el estado, la religion, la cultura y el medio ambiente, con gran lujo de detalles e interesantes anecdotas.Desde el principio de la civilizacion egipcia hasta el resurgimiento de los faraones, este libro abarca la teocracia totalitaria, el imperio del Nilo, la estructura del Egipto dinastico, la vision de la muerte, los jeroglificos, el esqueleto del arte anterior a la perspectiva y, finalmente, el declive y la caida de los faraones.Con esta edicion profusamente ilustrada, Johnson intenta descubrir a traves de una excitante combinacion de imagenes y analisis, las causas del colapso de esta grandiosa civilizacion mientras celebra su extraordinario legado.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Egypt, Egyptology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Paul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author. He was educated at Stonyhurst School in Clitheroe, Lancashire and Magdalen College, Oxford, and first came to prominence in the 1950s as a journalist writing for, and later editing, the New Statesman magazine. He has also written for leading newspapers and magazines in Britain, the US and Europe.

Paul Johnson has published over 40 books including A History of Christianity (1979), A History of the English People (1987), Intellectuals (1988), The Birth of the Modern: World Society, 1815—1830 (1991), Modern Times: A History of the World from the 1920s to the Year 2000 (1999), A History of the American People (2000), A History of the Jews (2001) and Art: A New History (2003) as well as biographies of Elizabeth I (1974), Napoleon (2002), George Washington (2005) and Pope John Paul II (1982).

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching The Prince of Egypt a few weeks ago, I went on a deep Wikipedia dive about Ancient Egypt. I wanted to know more about them as a people — how they came to power, and why they fell from grace.

This book seemed like a great entry point. I never understood Egypt in a “textbook” way. Johnson does a great job of giving the reader an overview of the 3,000 year history of Ancient Egypt from the fourth through first millennia BCE.

The storytelling of the unification through Old Kingdom, First Intermediary, Middle Kingdom, Second Intermediary, and New Kingdom is strong. It reads almost like a novel — I saw almost because the characterization of many of the key figures is understandably very light. I found the content was weaker as the New Kingdom fell to external forces and the revolving door of foreign kings reigning over Egypt left me confused.

I didn’t understand how the Greeks claimed Egypt. Of course, I understand the Greeks were a military might, but Johnson skips over any evidence of a war or an occupation.

He also very quickly skims past the Biblical and Judaic references to Egypt, most notably Exodus and the story of Moses. Very little (to none) is known about any historical figure of Moses, but I would have enjoyed more speculation or investigation into the topic.

All in all, the book is an informative, easy to read though dry intro to the history of Egypt. Recommended to any history buffs!

[Dwayne Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

General introduction to Egypt's rise, height, and fall. Has chapters dedicated to the religion, art, politics, etc. I don't know why you'd read this unless you have a general interest in Paul Johnson - there are so many other books on Egypt out there. For myself, I don't really care if it's outdated or if experts would disagree with details. This is essentially cozy history - a guided trip through one of the all-time world cultures, conducted by one of my most familiar and enjoyable historians.

[Danko Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it a very long ago and I felt it already outdated back then. Good to see some pictures of Egypt.

[Rafael De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legal

[Michal Čejka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnson to prostě umí neskutečně. Vlastně jako žádný jiný historik. V tomto případě vás prostě chytáí za ruku a hodí do Nilu. Do řeky plné nikoli krokodýlů, ale obrovského množství informací. A ty informace jsou skutečně tekuté, jedna oblast střídá druhou, a světe div se, ono to na sebe navazuje a plyne. A to navzdory skutečnosti, že dějiny Egypta jsou opravdu komplikované. Těžko se dají nalézat záchytné body - tady jsou jen dynastie I. až XXX. I tak máte na konci pocit, že jste tím Egyptem skutečně propluli.

[Zoltán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nyilván elfogult vagyok kissé a könyvvel, mivel a magyar megjelenés előtt a kiadó engem kért fel a szakmai lektorálásra. Ilyenkor az ember igyekszik kiszűrni minden zavaró hibát, hogy az olvasó kezébe lehetőleg nemcsak egy olvasmányos, de lehetőség szerint pontos és tényszerű mű kerüljön. Ha ez ebben az esetben sikerült, az igen nagy mértékben Paul Johnson érdeme, aki ismeretterjesztő zsurnalisztaként egy kifejezetten jó szerkesztettségű könyvet rakott le az asztalra. Szokatlanul kevés helyen volt szükség némi kiigazításra, nem nyűglődésként éltem meg a vele való foglalatoskodást. Legyen ennyi elég.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed and informative history of the Ancient Egyptian civilisation that's accessible and easy to read although the amount of detail does limit it's useful-ness for reference once it has been read the first time.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

A textbook history of ancient Egypt, the Pharoahs, dynasties, art, ec. Very dry, but educational.