Introduction 1

Part I: Introducing the Ancient Egyptians 7

Chapter 1: Getting Grounded: The Geography and History of Ancient Egypt 9

Chapter 2: Examining the Lives of the Everyday Egyptians 29

Part II: Stepping Back in Time 55

Chapter 3: Building a Civilisation with Military Might 57

Chapter 4: Building the Empire: The Glories of the New Kingdom 79

Chapter 5: Looking at the Power Behind the Throne: Royal Women 101

Chapter 6: Following the Decline and Fall of the Egyptian Civilisation 117

Part III: Living Life to the Full: Culture and Beliefs 139

Chapter 7: Enjoying Food and Entertainment 141

Chapter 8: Staying Healthy: Diseases and Medicine 157

Chapter 9: Worshipping like an Egyptian: Religion 171

Chapter 10: Exploring Funerary Beliefs and Mummification 189

Part IV: Interpreting Egyptian Art and Architecture 207

Chapter 11: Deciphering Egyptian Art and Hieroglyphs 209

Chapter 12: Touring the Temples 229

Chapter 13: Excavating the Tombs: Houses of Eternity 253

Chapter 14: Probing the Pyramids 271

Part V: The Part of Tens 285

Chapter 15: Top Ten Breakthroughs in Egyptology 287

Chapter 16: Ten Egyptians Worth Knowing 297

Chapter 17: Ten Ancient Egyptian Achievements 307

Chapter 18: Top Ten Places to Visit in Egypt 317

Chapter 19: Ten Key Egyptologists 327

Index 335