What Life was Like on the Banks of the Nile: Egypt 3050 - 30 BC [Hardcover]

Time-Life Books (Editor), Denise Dersin (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1997

Egyptian history through the eyes of the ancient Egyptians themselves. It offers a portrait of the daily life of people from all walks of life. Richly illustrated with contemporary paintings, reliefs, and artifacts, as well as detailed reconstructions and maps of towns, buildings, and the world as it was.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-This book relies on hieroglyphics, charms, paintings, and even written prayers to re-create what life was like in the land of the pyramids. Rather than attempt to summarize the entire history of Egypt, the chapters focus on personal accounts of specific people who have been dead for thousands of years. For example, in 2002 B.C., a farmer named Hekanakht was sent away from his family to fulfill ceremonial and administrative duties. Through his letters home, readers learn of his struggles to settle domestic squabbles and maintain his farm from afar. Accounts of pharaohs, warriors, and commoners are included. Much emphasis is given to the role of women. These primary-source documents create a moving and immediate picture of these ancient people. Full-color photos work well with the text, showing carvings, sculpture, and portraits of the Egyptians whose stories are told along with artifacts relating to their lives. The text is meaty; nonreaders scared off by the adult format will miss the best part-reconfiguring in their imaginations the past as its participants described it. The best use of this book may be by teachers to supplement a study unit with succinct, shared passages transcribed from the past. A fascinating volume that can't help but make readers wonder if human emotions will survive as well on paper and e-mail as these amazing messages have done in clay and stone.
Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 8^-12. This is not a supplement for middle-grade units on Egypt. Yes, it is full of information for report writers, and color pictures dot every page, but it is not traditionally organized, and the writing style is sophisticated, as is some of the material. For instance, an early chapter details an ancient papyrus letter, one that was written in 2002 B.C. A landowner, out of town during the harvest, is worried that his family is being cruel to his second wife and that a member of his household is sexually harassing her. It is also clear that he spoils his youngest child and disdains an older one. These peeks into the past make readers aware of the similarities between the people of ancient Egypt and ourselves. The book, which covers the time period from 3050 to 3030 B.C., also looks at the life of royalty, focusing on several kings, including Akhenaton and Ramses. There is information about the pyramids, mummification, religion, work and social life, and Tut's treasures as well. An interesting addition to Egyptology collections, one that puts a human face to an ancient civilization. Ilene Cooper

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Time Life Education; 1st edition (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809493780
• ISBN-13: 978-0809493784
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars breathing life into history, April 30, 2005

By 

hh "hh01" (West Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Life was Like on the Banks of the Nile: Egypt 3050 - 30 BC (Hardcover)

This book is not meant to provide a detailed history of ancient Egypt. Rather, it is meant to breathe life into that history. The book show snips of life (musical entertainment, feasts, marriage and courtship, crafts, etc) that most history books gloss over. It is richly illustrated in vivid color photography so that there are examples of almost everything discussed. It also provides a wonderful timeline that you can reference while reading. It's certainly not the only book you'll want to read in learning about ancient Egypt, but it is definitely to be included. Something like this went out of print? Grab one before they're all gone.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful introductory book for kids and adults, March 23, 2007

By 

gilly8 "gilly8" (Mars, the hotspot of the U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Life was Like on the Banks of the Nile: Egypt 3050 - 30 BC (Hardcover)

Non-fiction. A small book loaded with interesting facts and color photographs. Gives a great introduction to ancient Egypt. Many anecdotes including for example how they communicated with dead family members to have them help with problems, which I've seen no where else. This book could be read by an intelligent child, but is worthwhile for adults wanting to get more information about ancient Egypt. Great photographs on every page. A classic, and not just for children despite the size and shape of it. (FYI the cover shows King Tutankhamun seated and his wife standing, it was the backrest of his throne and one of the most stunning pieces of artwork imaginable.)

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Life Was Like: When Ancient Egypt Instructed the World, February 23, 2007

By 

John Philoponus "Ortho Arbiter" (Nitria, Virtual Ortho America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Life was Like on the Banks of the Nile: Egypt 3050 - 30 BC (Hardcover)

"Interwoven throughout, these stories are the intimate details of daily life- what people ate, wore, and thought about life, love, and the afterlife." A persuading address to my grandson Nuni, from the back cover.




Hail to thee, O Nile!
Who manifests thyself over this land, and comes to give life to Egypt!
O Nile, come and prosper!
O you who make men live through his flocks and those through his orchards!
Like a giant Anaconda, the world's longest river, the Nile, slides through some of the most arid deserts on earth to engulf a rather narrow fertile valley, which extends for a thousand miles from the cataracts south of Aswan into the delta on the Mediterranean sea in the north. Hapi, the Nile God was believed to have been the trigger to this great early civilizations in history, as Herodotus had written, "Egypt is the gift of the Nile." The Nile has been a faithful provider to the earliest known civilized nations, and a central core to its thought and religion.

Ancient Egyptian Life:
Daily life in ancient Egypt revolved around the Nile and the land along its banks, it divided the land of the living and those of the dead on its west banks. The yearly river flood enriched the soil and brought good harvests and wealth to the land. Most ancient Egyptians worked as farmers, craftsmen and scribes. The pharaoh with a small group of people were the priests and nobles. Together, these groups of people made up the population of ancient Egypt, that survived for more than two millennia.

A Time-Life Classic:
Based on interwoven notes from scholarly works of Egyptologists, amazing artifacts in museums, writings by discoverers and archeologists. When Champolion deciphered hieroglyphics, he made available history, stories, as well as written prayers to recount what life was like in the land of temples, Pyramids, obelisks and the Sphynx. Accounts of pharaohs, wise priests and scribes, warriors, and common people alike are narrated, with emphasis on the role of women, which distinguishes Ancient Egyptians from all other peoples, who lived in their surroundings.
This meticulously prepared, and beautifully displayed book brought about by the time-Life research tank provides an in depth panorama of the amazing ancient Egyptian symphony, with basic information about the pyramids, mummification, social life, work and religion. Also delving into the life of famous Egyptian royalty, including Akhenaton and Ramses. Ancient Egyptians whose stories are told, with full color photos, showing statues, sculpture, and portraits of their artifacts exposes their lives. The text is friendly, reconstructing in readers imaginations the past as its own participants has recorded. The real enjoyment of this book will be shared by civilization explorers and ancient history teachers.

Reviewers Opinion:
"A fascinating volume that can't help but make readers wonder if human emotions will survive as well on paper and e-mail as these amazing messages have done in clay and stone." Cathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library