George Rawlinson

Today’s modern conveniences render the ancient world almost incomprehensible. The Coliseum, the Parthenon and the pyramids seem like mythology in the face of contemporary high rises, yet Rawlinson underscores the impact ancient civilizations had on the development of the world. Through written records, geography and currency, he explains how the empires grew . . . and how they fell.

One of the most fascinating regions of Africa, the land that saw the rise and fall of the longest and most enigmatic of the Mediterranean civilizations, Egypt is full of landscapes of breathtaking beauty and artistic masterpieces, from the pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings, from the Temple of Philae to Abu Simbel. Thrilling images combined with original text describe the myriad facets of a colorful and surprising land which the Ancients appropriately called "The Red and the Black," evoking the sharp contrast between the red of the scorching desert wastes and the black silt left by the flooding Nile. Within the pages of this book is an enthralling journey through a country with enduring appeal, savoring the complexity, mystery, and formidable wealth of the land of the pharaohs.