The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books) (Paperback)

~ Elizabeth Payne (Author) "On a sweltering August morning in the year 1799, the Egyptian sun beat down on a scene of frenzied activity in the Nile River Delta..." (more)
Key Phrases: funerary equipment, valley men, valley cliffs, Thutmose the Third, Nile Valley, City of the Horizon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was a great civilization that thrived along the banks of the Nile River. But when its cities crumbled to dust, Egypt’s culture and the secrets of its hieroglyphic writings were
also lost. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt’s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days.

From the Inside Flap

For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was a great civilization that thrived along the banks of the Nile River. But when its cities crumbled to dust, Egypt?s culture and the secrets of its hieroglyphic writings were
also lost. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt?s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (February 12, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394846990
• ISBN-13: 978-0394846996
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,886 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #5 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Science > Archaeology
  #5 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Africa
  #22 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Ancient

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating reading even for adults!, October 17, 1999

By A Customer

As a home-schooling father, I bought this book to supplement our study of ancient history for my son (grade 7) and daughter (grade 5). My son who likes history is enjoying it; and although my daughter finds the reading a little difficult at times, she likes it OK, too. I found it very well written and informative. Starting out with the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, the author takes the reader on a journey of Egypt's remote past to the lives of the great Pharoahs. The history of ancient Egypt from the Nile valley to the military campaigns in the Middle East of Thutmose III and Rameses II are covered in good story-telling fashion. Included throughout are desciptions of the ancient Egyptians' religious beliefs and culture. Black-and-white illustrations support the text. Although it is suggested for 9-12 year olds, I would recommend it for older readers as well.

57 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Effective Introduction to Ancient Egypt for Children, August 30, 2001

By	Charles Flemming (Burleson, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Written for children who are independent readers, Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt was, nevertheless, a fascinating introduction to Ancient Egypt for all my children. My younger daughter was in first grade at the time and needed some help with the reading, but the stories themselves were of great interest to her. It was fun for me to see all three of them learn about the Rosetta Stone and other archaeological discoveries, most of which I hadn't learned about until I was well past childhood. It's amazing what children will find interesting when it comes wrapped in a story. Although some may regard the story-telling as somewhat fanciful (obviously we don't really know what most of these people really thought or felt), the author has succeeded in her quest to bring the attention of the reader into the context of the history she describes.

We bought this book along with the Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Eqypt, which listed it as one of its primary texts for children's history. I recommend that book, along Tony Allan's Time Traveller Book of Pharaohs and Pyramids, if you are going to teach your children the history of ancient Egypt. The Greenleaf book helps you organize your children's study with questions and projects (along with recommended resources), while the well-illustrated Time Traveller book helps the children visualize what they're reading about.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to Egypt!, August 5, 2000

By	Yumuri "Polilla" (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful general introduction tot he study of ancient Egypt. Caution: This is really meant for grades 7 and up. The langauge is difficult for younger ones,even as a read-aloud. Also, the first chapter is mostly conjecture about the beginning of civilization in the Nile River Valley. You can skip it. Overall, it is fascinating reading.