The Kingdom of Kush: The Napatan and Meroitic Empires [Paperback]

Derek A. Welsby (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1558761829 | ISBN-13: 978-1558761827 | Publication Date: March 1999

The Kingdom of Kush, lying south of Egypt, flourished for 1000 years. During the eighth and seventh centuries BC its rulers controlled Egypt as pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty. Yet much of the history of the kingdom is obscure, with it being overshadowed by its more famous neighbour. Using both ancient classical sources and modern data from archaeological digs, this work explores the history and culture of the Kushites. It illustrates all aspects of life and shows how the kingdom interacted over the centuries with Egypt.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a reliable, up-to-date guide....Welsby's book presents the archaeological evidence extensively in illustrations and plates. Welsby's early and concluding chapters (1-3, 9) trace the rise, greatness, and "fall" of the Kushite kingdom in great detail and with frequent reference to points of scholarly disagreement. The book's middle chapters (5-8) treat a variety of topics: "Religion and Funerary Ritual", "Architecture", "Urban and Rural Settlement", "The Economy", and "The Arts and the Art of Writing". They rely heavily on architectural remains and plans and on artefacts excavated in temples, palaces, towns, and cemeteries.Kushite pyramids and tombs (and their grave goods), inscribed stelae, statues, reliefs, skeletons, and pots [and] such objects of daily life as clothing, musical instruments, toys, and cosmetics.

[Welsby's] aim...is to "provide a balanced account of the history of the Kingdom of Kush and the lifestyle of its inhabitants throughout its thousand-ye! ar history". In this The Kingdom of Kush admirably succeeds....it is hard not to agree with the author that "[s]tudying the Kingdom of Kush is like a detective story" full of "intriguing problems"... -- Classical Bulletin 75, no. 2 - 1999

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Markus Wiener Pub (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558761829
• ISBN-13: 978-1558761827
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,296,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and very interesting book, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kingdom of Kush: The Napatan and Meroitic Empires (Paperback)

This is a beautiful and captivating book. It differs completely from other books about the black Pharaohs, which are often ideological and controversial. This book provides proof, with photos from archeological sites. It informs us about life in the cities and in the countryside and about ancient black religions. Kush was not Egypt, but it ruled Egypt for a period of time. The book is also affordable, which I greatly appreciated.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great Disappointment! Poorly organized with no focus., February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kingdom of Kush: The Napatan and Meroitic Empires (Hardcover)

I have rarely read a more disappointing book than The Kingdom of Kush by Derek Welsby. Badly organized with no continuity, I assume the publisher's editorial staff was on vacation when this one came through. The book is the literary equivalent of the 50 yard dash for people with no sense of direction. Hummingbirds spend more time in one place than Mr. Welsby spent with any one facet of his book. Unless you happen to be a scholar specializing in the Kingdom, you will be quickly lost as the author zigs and zags through myriad arcane tidbits that are probably significant to someone. There is no effort to establish a context, set out a chronology, or discuss the historical significance of the topic in general terms that an intelligent, but unschooled lay person could understand. Perhaps the target audience was the six other experts fluent in this field; for the rest of us, the book is a useless garble of facts and pontifications. Equal criticism goes to the History Book of the Month Club who marketed the book with no indication that you needed a PhD in the topic to follow the book. The bio describes Mr. Welsby as an assistant keeper and field archealogist. While it appears that he is indeed quite knowledgeable in the field of Kushite history, I would recommend that he stick with his day job or get real editors.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and very interesting book, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kingdom of Kush: The Napatan and Meroitic Empires (Paperback)

This is a beautiful and captivating book. It differs completely from other books about the black Pharaohs, which are often ideological and controversial. This book provides proof, with photos from archeological sites. It informs us about life in the cities and in the countryside and about ancient black religions. Kush was not Egypt, but it ruled Egypt for a period of time. The book is also affordable, which I greatly appreciated.