The Shortest History of Egypt: From the Dynastic to the Present―A Desert Nation’s 5,000 Years of Change and Continuity (The Shortest History Series)

Our “American in Cairo” author goes beyond King Tut and tomb-raiders to discover one of the world’s oldest civilizations in her fast-paced account across seven millennia Egypt looms large in the popular imagination, bringing to mind images of pyramids, pharaohs, tomb-raiders, and deserts. Mainstream media has employed its striking landscapes and mythologies to captivate audiences in major film franchises and bestselling novels. But Egypt’s true allure might lie in its impressively long history―and what it can tell us about the evolution of tradition, culture, and society. In The Shortest History of Egypt, Maria Golia draws on extensive historical research and decades of experience living in and writing about the country to offer a contemporary perspective on one of the world’s oldest, most storied civilizations. From a deep respect for tradition to the capacity for creativity, Golia examines the ways in which Egypt is a case study for the modern human condition.