Ancient Egypt: A Research Guide
Ancient Egypt was the birthplace of one of the world’s first civilizations that included a thriving
culture, which contributed the world’s first national government, basic forms of arithmetic, and a
365-day calendar. The Egyptians invented a form of picture writing called hieroglyphics and
papyrus and developed one of the first religions to emphasize life after death. The terms and
phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the
library’s catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.
Reference Books
Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt edited by John Baines and Jaromír Málek. New York: Facts On
File, 2000. ISBN: 0816040362.
Introduction to life in ancient Egypt.
Egyptology: An Introduction to the History, Art and Culture of Ancient Egypt edited by James
Putnam. New York: Crescent Books, 1996. ISBN: 185627845X.
Covers interesting points about ancient Egypt, with a special emphasis on life and art.
Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt edited by A. Rosalie David. New York: Facts On File, 1998.
ISBN: 0816033129.
Includes historical background, geography, society and government, religion of the living,
funerary beliefs and customs, architecture and building, written evidence, the army and navy,
foreign trade and transport, economy and industry, and everyday life.
Life in Ancient Egypt edited by Thomas Streissguth. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2001. ISBN:
1560066431.
Provides informative details on how the Egyptians lived and what they believed.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt by Donald B. Redford. 3 vols. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2001. ISBN: 0195102347.
Covers all aspects of Egyptology including 600 articles on history, archaeology, economics,
science, and literary and religious studies.
The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt edited by Ian Shaw. New York: Oxford University Press,
2000. ISBN: 0192802933.
Provides detailed historical coverage of Egypt from the early Stone Age to its incorporation into
the Roman Empire. Also examines cultural and social patterns, including stylistic developments in
art and literature.
What Life Was Like on the Banks of the Nile: Egypt, 3050–30 B.C. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life
Books, 1996. ISBN: 0809493780.
Tells of the day to day activities of people in ancient Egypt.
Mythology
The Gods of Ancient Egypt edited by Barbara Watterson. Stroud: Sutton, 1999.
and Religion
ISBN: 0750922257.
Explores the main characteristics of ancient Egyptian religions and traces the origins of all the
major deities of ancient Egypt.
Handbook of Egyptian Mythology edited by Geraldine Pinch. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO,
2002. ISBN: 1576072428.
Survey of Egyptian mythology spanning ancient Egyptian culture (circa 3200 B.C. to A.D. 400).
Pyramids
Pyramids by Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. ISBN: 156006773X.
Gives brief information on how the pyramids were built with illustrations and pictures to
supplement the basic data.
The Pyramids of Giza by Tim McNeese. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1997. ISBN: 1560064269.
Describes the construction of the three great pyramids on the Giza Plateau near the edge of
Egypt’s Western Desert.
Web Sites
Ancient Egypt
www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html
Created by the British Museum, this Web site provides general information on many subtopics
like mummification, pharaohs, hieroglyphics, pyramids, and temples.
Mummies of Ancient Egypt
www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/mummy/
Answers questions like “what are mummies?” and “how are mummies made?” Also contains
information about the ancient Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife.
Pyramids: The Inside Story
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/
Companion Web site to the PBS NOVA television series about exploring and excavating
pyramids.
The Religion of Ancient Egypt
www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/religion/religion.html
Includes detailed information on specific deities, priests’ theology, and a list of gods in the
astrology of ancient Egypt.
Subject Headings
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building—Egypt
Egypt—antiquities
Egypt—civilization—332 B.C.–638 A.D.
Egypt—civilization—to 332 B.C.
Egypt—history—to 332 B.C.
Egypt—social life and customs—to 332 B.C.
Egyptology
pyramids—Egypt
pyramids of Giza (Egypt)—design and construction