While technically not an archaeological study, the works of George Rawlinson are of a class with those of Austin Henry Layard. Both represent the larger picture of the cultures with which they are so fascinated. Rawlinson’s study of ancient Egypt is intelligent and contains material that is of interest to archaeologists as well. This learned study surveys the land and people of Egypt before taking the development of the nation through historic chapters such as the period of pyramid builders, the rise of Thebes, the invasion and expulsion of the Hyksos, the great pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom, all the way to the decline of the Egyptian Empire. Told in a level of detail that rivals Breasted’s classic work on Egypt, this earlier study makes fascinating reading.

George Rawlinson (1812-1902) was an Orientalist and Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. A highly regarded scholar of classics, he was eventually appointed Camden professor of Ancient History at the University of Oxford. He published widely on topics concerning the ancient world, and he was the younger brother of noted Orientalist Sir Henry Rawlinson.

• CONTENTS (page 11)
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (page 21)
• THE STORY OF ANCIENT EGYPT CHAPTER I : THE LAND OF EGYPT (page 25)
• CHAPTER II : THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT (page 47)
• CHAPTER III : THE DAWN OF HISTORY (page 70)
• CHAPTER IV : THE PYRAMID BUILDERS (page 89)
• CHAPTER V : THE RISE OF THEBES TO POWER, AND THE EARLY THEBAN KINGS (page 119)
• CHAPTER VI : THE GOOD AMENEMHAT AND HIS WORKS (page 137)
• CHAPTER VII : ABRAHAM IN EGYPT (page 148)
• CHAPTER VIII : THE GREAT INVASION-THE HYKSOS OR SHEPHERD KINGS-JOSEPH AND APEPI (page 156)
• CHAPTER IX : HOW THE HYKSOS WERE EXPELLED FROM EGYPT (page 171)
• CHAPTER X : THOTHMES I., THE FIRST GREAT EGYPTIAN CONQUEROR (page 182)
• CHAPTER XI : QUEEN HATASU AND HER MERCHANT FLEET (page 194)
• CHAPTER XII : THOTHMES THE THIRD AND AMENHOTEP THE SECOND (page 213)
• CHAPTER XIII : AMENHOTEP III..AND HIS GREAT WORKS-THE VOCAL MEMNON (page 232)
• CHAPTER XIV : KHUENATEN AND THE DISK-WORSHIPPERS (page 247)
• CHAPTER XV : BEGINNING OF THE DECLINE OF EGYPT (page 255)
• CHAPTER XVI : MENEPHTHAH I., THE PHARAOH OF THE EXODUS (page 277)
• CHAPTER XVII : THE DECLINE OF EGYPT UNDER THE LATER RAMESSIDES (page 293)
• CHAPTER XVIII : THE PRIEST-KINGS-PINETEM AND SOLOMON (page 312)
• CHAPTER XIX : SHISHAK AND HIS DYNASTY (page 322)
• CHAPTER XX : THE LAND SHADOWING WITH WINGS-EGYPT UNDER THE ETHIOPIANS (page 338)
• CHAPTER XXI : THE FIGHT OVER THE CARCASE-ETHIOPIA V. ASSYRIA (page 355)
• CHAPTER XXII : THE CORPSE COMES TO LIFE AGAIN-PSAMATIK I. AND HIS SON NECO (page 366)
• CHAPTER XXIII : THE LATER SAITE KINGS,-PSAMATIK II., APRIES, AND AMASIS (page 384)
• CHAPTER XXIV : THE PERSIAN CONQUEST (page 392)
• CHAPTER XXV : THREE DESPERATE REVOLTS (page 405)
• CHAPTER XXVI : A LAST GLEAM OF SUNSHINE-NECTANEBO I. (page 411)
• CHAPTER XXVII : THE LIGHT GOES OUT IN DARKNESS (page 417)
• INDEX (page 431)