EGYPTIAN
whole of ancient Egypt in only 161 out of 356 pages, and Tignor covers the pre-Islamic Period in 121 out of 320 pages. The two books are arranged according to the same thematic approach, but with differing numbers of chapters in each book - the geographical background, prehistory and the Predynastic Period, the standard division of ancient Egypt into Kingdoms and Intermediate Periods, Graeco-Roman Egypt, Coptic Egypt, early Islamic Period, Fatimid Egypt, the Mamluk Period, the Ottoman Period, the Mohammad Ali dynasty and republican Egypt. Thompson covers all periods in slightly more detail, but Tignor prefers to sum them up in general conclusions. Modern Egypt is treated in more detail by both, although perhaps in a thousand years other writers of Egyptian history might reduce the rule of Nasser to a mere paragraph like some of the ancient Egyptian rulers described by Thompson and Tignor. Both discuss the environmental background to Egyptian history and Thompson contains a brief page on chronology, while Tignor has introductory pages on the importance of Egypt in history and the place of modern museums in illustrating it. He even tackles head-on the question of the ethnicity of the ancient Egyptians, and clearly states that they were not black Africans, contrary to certain fashionable theories, but rather ‘of mixed African, North African, and Southwest Asian origins’. If scientists dare, in the face of
ARCHAEOLOGY
controversy, the issue could now be settled by extensive DNA analysis. Both authors give a workmanlike account of ancient Egyptian history, but their different approaches are evident. Thompson names the major and fairly major rulers, while Tignor mentions fewer by name in his grand generalized sweep of Egyptian history; for example only Mentuhotep II and Amenemhat I rate an appearance in the Middle Kingdom. He is more generous with New Kingdom rulers but curiously neither Seti I nor Ramesses III is discussed as a ruler, only as a tomb-owner. However, Tignor does have more detailed discussion of Egyptian religion, writing, and science, and women’s rights, although Thompson writes more on Middle Kingdom literature. In the New Kingdom, Tignor concentrates on the reigns of four main rulers:Tuthmosis III who gets only a paragraph, Hatshepsut who gets three, Akhenaten who covers six and a half pages, and Ramesses II who gets four pages. These preferences are based partially on the surviving evidence but perhaps also on modern prejudices which tend to exaggerate the importance of the female ruler Hatshepsut and the religious preoccupations of Akhenaten. Thompson too gives Akhenaten more space than other rulers but at least mentions other reigns of the New Kingdom. He is right up-to-date with his research, describing Herihor as Piankh’s sonin-law, and deals with the major rulers of the Third Intermediate Period while Sheshonq I
and his Jerusalem campaign do not even rate a reference by Tignor. Their differing methods of dealing with history continue in the Graeco-Roman and Coptic Christian periods; for example, Thompson has four pages on Cleopatra VII’s career, while Tignor sums her up in one long paragraph. The discussions in both books of Islamic and modern Egypt are stimulating and refreshing, especially as the Islamic Period, until the advent of Napoleon, tends to be ignored by writers of general works Naturally both give some brief space to the development of Egyptology although Tignor devotes more room to the work of the French scholars and the decipherment of hieroglyphic writing. He also discusses Mohammad Ali’s education policy but curiously garbles the names of the early Egyptian Egyptologists Ahmad Kamal (not Kamala) and Marcus Simaika (not Samaria). Both authors carry the Egyptian story up to President Mubarak and speculate on what lies beyond and Tignor mentions popular dissatisfaction with the regime which, of course, has now spectacularly come to the surface. Tignor also has an interesting final chapter in which he tries to identify the constants in Egyptian history such as religion and strong leadership. Thompson has a short bibliography but Tignor has a more detailed and up-to-date one. Both works are excellent summations of the flow of Egyptian history, and the reader will be hard put to choose between them. MORRIS L BIERBRIER
Egypt Exploration Society www.ees-shop.com Several EES publications are currently on special offer at our online shop, including sets of two related books. Recent and back-stock publications can also be ordered online. Jute bags with the Society’s logo are £5 each and binders for Egyptian Archaeology (to hold 20 copies) are £10 each. You can also buy a merchandise bundle made up of EES-branded items: a jute bag, mug, pen and lapel badge, all for only £10. Orders for EES publications and merchandise can also be placed by phone, post or e-mail. Contact: Rob Tamplin, EES, 3 Doughty Mews, London WC1N 2PG. Phone: +44 (0)20 7242 2266 Fax: +44 (0)20 7404 6118 E-mail: rob.tamplin@ees.ac.uk
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