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eososray's review against another edition
5.0
Great lecturer, obviously loves his subject. He has some great information and theories, goes through all the dynasties with little sidebars into mummies and magic and a couple other subjects. Also throws a few biblical references in, which was very interesting. He starts with very early history and goes all the way to Cleopatra. Despite the massive amount of history he covers, I think he manages to convey a lot of detail, not just an overview.
He also references where lots of artifacts are, British Museum, Rome, The Egyptian Museum, and a few independent places in London. So if you've been to them you may have seen some of the pieces and that makes it even more fascinating. He's like the ultimate Egyptian tour guide....but for everywhere in the world that has artifacts.
My only caveat is its age, 1999, not that there has been major changes but there are a few things that are obviously dated.
24.5 hours worth, split into 30 minute lectures. Almost like listening to chapters in a book.
He also references where lots of artifacts are, British Museum, Rome, The Egyptian Museum, and a few independent places in London. So if you've been to them you may have seen some of the pieces and that makes it even more fascinating. He's like the ultimate Egyptian tour guide....but for everywhere in the world that has artifacts.
My only caveat is its age, 1999, not that there has been major changes but there are a few things that are obviously dated.
24.5 hours worth, split into 30 minute lectures. Almost like listening to chapters in a book.
professor_x's review against another edition
5.0
A most excellent introduction of ancient Egypt. These 48 lectures are narrated by Professor Bob Brier, and it doesn't take long to see that he absolutely loves talking about everything Egypt. Everything is covered here -- pharaohs, pyramids, human and animal mummification, religion and mythology, art and architecture.
I thought the lecture of the "heretic" king Akhenaten was very interesting. He was the only pharaoh to declare one god, thus introducing monotheism for the first time in recorded history. Egypt, being a polytheistic society for centuries, reeled under his rule. Once he passed away, it didn't take long for the other gods to make their return.
A wonderful course indeed!
I thought the lecture of the "heretic" king Akhenaten was very interesting. He was the only pharaoh to declare one god, thus introducing monotheism for the first time in recorded history. Egypt, being a polytheistic society for centuries, reeled under his rule. Once he passed away, it didn't take long for the other gods to make their return.
A wonderful course indeed!
naomisbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
meganlouise815's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
nelsta's review against another edition
5.0
The history of Ancient Egypt is incredible. This collection is a mere summary of its 3,000+ year history and it spans twenty-four hours of lectures. It was difficult for me to comprehend one nation's history enveloping so much time until Dr. Brier pointed out all the places Egyptian influence can be found. I grew up learning that civilization began with the Fertile Crescent, but I'm convinced by Dr. Brier's argument that culture begins with Ancient Egypt.
This lecture series proceeds through Egyptian history in chronological order with a handful of exceptions. Dr. Brier--called Mr. Mummy--discusses religion, writing, culture, history, geography, architecture, and more in forty-eight lectures. The whole thing is well done, but I felt like everything after the eighteenth dynasty was covered in increasingly rapid summarization. Just about the entire Ptolemaic dynasty (300 years) is summarized in two lectures. When history covers three millennia, cuts have to be made, but I was left wishing that the final years of ancient Egypt had been given more attention.
One of the most incredible things I learned was that the pyramids were built in the Old Kingdom (the first of three semi-unique civilizations in Egypt), long before most of the history with which I'm familiar. Egypt had its own archaeologists studying ancient Egyptian structures like the pyramids, the Sphinx, and other temples to the gods. Imagine a civilization so old that it has archaeologists studying its own buildings from three thousand years before. I was in awe from start to finish. I also enjoyed Dr. Brier's descriptions of the "Joseph in Egypt" and Exodus stories. It was remarkable to learn about them from the point of view of an egyptologist.
If you have any interest in Egypt, consider picking these lectures up. It's long, but not bland or boring. It was interesting enough to keep me engaged for ten straight days of listening, which is more than I can say for other reads.
This lecture series proceeds through Egyptian history in chronological order with a handful of exceptions. Dr. Brier--called Mr. Mummy--discusses religion, writing, culture, history, geography, architecture, and more in forty-eight lectures. The whole thing is well done, but I felt like everything after the eighteenth dynasty was covered in increasingly rapid summarization. Just about the entire Ptolemaic dynasty (300 years) is summarized in two lectures. When history covers three millennia, cuts have to be made, but I was left wishing that the final years of ancient Egypt had been given more attention.
One of the most incredible things I learned was that the pyramids were built in the Old Kingdom (the first of three semi-unique civilizations in Egypt), long before most of the history with which I'm familiar. Egypt had its own archaeologists studying ancient Egyptian structures like the pyramids, the Sphinx, and other temples to the gods. Imagine a civilization so old that it has archaeologists studying its own buildings from three thousand years before. I was in awe from start to finish. I also enjoyed Dr. Brier's descriptions of the "Joseph in Egypt" and Exodus stories. It was remarkable to learn about them from the point of view of an egyptologist.
If you have any interest in Egypt, consider picking these lectures up. It's long, but not bland or boring. It was interesting enough to keep me engaged for ten straight days of listening, which is more than I can say for other reads.
mel_reviews_in_a_pinch's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first Great Courses lecture that I really struggled getting through. Normally I love them and my struggle is whether it should get 4 or 5 stars. Not so with this one.
First and foremost, the book had a TON of great information. I learned a lot about Ancient Egypt that was never covered in school or that we quickly skipped through (I don’t remember spending much time on it, TBH). Professor Bob Brier clearly knows his stuff and absolutely loves being an Egyptologist.
Having said that, we come to my issue with the lecture series. Professor Bob Brier. His accent was grating for me (can’t remember if he said Bronx or Brooklyn). I felt myself cringing every time he used a word that started with H because it would become a silent H (i.e. huge and human became uge and uman). He also has a tendency to repeat himself; I’m assuming for emphasis. The problem with that here is that he does it every other sentence.
If I’m being completely honest, those irritations didn’t start to stop me from wanting to finish until about 3 hours from the end. Then it became a battle with myself to get through it.
I would recommend this lecture series if you absolutely love Egypt and Egyptology and if you’re not too finicky about accents and grammar. I would even read future books by Professor Brier, but I would never listen to another one.
First and foremost, the book had a TON of great information. I learned a lot about Ancient Egypt that was never covered in school or that we quickly skipped through (I don’t remember spending much time on it, TBH). Professor Bob Brier clearly knows his stuff and absolutely loves being an Egyptologist.
Having said that, we come to my issue with the lecture series. Professor Bob Brier. His accent was grating for me (can’t remember if he said Bronx or Brooklyn). I felt myself cringing every time he used a word that started with H because it would become a silent H (i.e. huge and human became uge and uman). He also has a tendency to repeat himself; I’m assuming for emphasis. The problem with that here is that he does it every other sentence.
If I’m being completely honest, those irritations didn’t start to stop me from wanting to finish until about 3 hours from the end. Then it became a battle with myself to get through it.
I would recommend this lecture series if you absolutely love Egypt and Egyptology and if you’re not too finicky about accents and grammar. I would even read future books by Professor Brier, but I would never listen to another one.