A History of Egypt, Part 1: From the Earliest Times to the Persian Conquest

by James Henry Breasted

This two-volume work, first published in 1937, is arguably one of the best works on ancient Egyptian history by an American writer.

Genres: Egypt, History, Nonfiction, Egyptology

388 pages, Paperback

Published December 19, 1937

About the author

James Henry Breasted was an American archaeologist, Egyptologist, and historian. After completing his PhD at the University of Berlin in 1894, he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago. In 1901 he became director of the Haskell Oriental Museum at the University of Chicago, where he continued to concentrate on Egypt. In 1905 Breasted was promoted to professor, and was the first chair in Egyptology and Oriental History in the United States. In 1919 he became the founder of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.
(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Micaela]

Parts of this work are probably dated by now, understandably, but this book remains one of the best introductions and overviews of Ancient Egyptian history out there. It is a truly phenomenal work, encompassing several thousand years yet managing to give an excellent feel for the progression of Ancient Egyptian society, with all its accomplishments and calamities. It is also cleverly and engagingly written, and a good length.

[Ravindra Chauhan]

This book presents a very long and detailed history of Egypt. Reading once in not sufficient to know all of it. It is like a text book for history students presenting not just the history of Kingdoms but also the living and social culture of the people living in the times. Overall a very good read for readers interested in in depth contents.

[Rob Roy]

A very readable, though outdated history of ancient Egypt