Ancient Egypt 📜 A Very Short Introduction by Ian Shaw | Book Review

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Step into the world of pharaohs, pyramids, and timeless mysteries with Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction by Ian Shaw. 📚 In this review, I explore how Shaw goes far beyond a simple chronology of dynasties and rulers, instead guiding readers through the modern understanding of ancient Egypt.

Rather than just listing the 31 dynasties, Shaw asks bigger questions: how do we study Egypt today, how has its image survived for millennia, and why does it continue to fascinate global audiences? This slim volume manages to cover everything from archaeology to art, religion to popular culture. 🏺

In this video, I’ll break down:
What makes this book different from a standard history of Egypt ✨
How Shaw balances ancient evidence with modern scholarship
The role of Egypt in our cultural imagination, from Herodotus to Hollywood
Why this book is a must-read for both newcomers and seasoned history lovers

If you’ve ever wondered about the longevity of Egyptian civilization or why it continues to shape our worldviews thousands of years later, this review will help you decide if this book belongs on your reading list.

📺 Link to my Very Short Introduction playlist:    • A Very Short Introduction Series  

📺 Link to my Great Courses playlist:    • The Great Courses  

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0:00 Hook
0:31 Introduction
1:22 Ian Shaw
2:45 Ancient Egypt VSI Overview
4:03 Ch. 1 Introduction: The Story So Far
4:39 Ch. 2 Discovering and Inventing: Constructing Ancient Egypt
5:12 Ch. 3 History: Building Chronologies and Writing Histories
5:47 Ch. 4: Writing: The Origins and Implications of Hieroglyphs
6:23 Ch. 5: Kingship: Stereotyping and the ‘Oriental Despot’
6:59 Ch. 6: Identity: Issues of Ethnicity, Race, and Gender
7:32 Ch. 7: Death: Mummification, Dismemberment, and the Cult of Osiris
8:11 Ch. 8: Religion: Egyptian Gods and Temples
8:44 Ch. 9: Egyptomania: The Recycling and Reinventing of Egypt’s Icons and Images
9:25 Argumentative Distinctions
12:02 Fun Facts
14:24 Personal Reaction
15:34 Who is this for?
16:30 Who is this NOT for?
17:38 Final Thoughts