A Gift of Geology: Ancient Egyptian Landscapes and Monuments

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Egyptian landscape -- An introduction to geology -- The geology of Egypt, Part 1: the Precambrian -- The geology of Egypt, Part 2: The Paleozoic and Mesozoic -- The geology of Egypt, Part 3: the Cenozoic: a land of rivers -- The evolution of the River Nile -- The Easter Desert -- The Western Desert, Part I -- The Western Desert, Part 2 -- Mining and quarrying -- Building in stone in ancient Egypt -- The interaction of monuments and landscape -- A gift of geology

"While much is known about Egypt's towering pyramids, mighty obelisks, and extraordinary works of art, less is known about the role played by Egypt's geological history in the formation of pharaonic culture's artistic and architectural legacy. The fertile soils that lined the Nile Valley meant that the people of Egypt were able to live well off the land. Yet what allowed ancient Egypt to stand apart from other early civilizations was its access to the vast range of natural resources that lay beyond the Nile floodplain. In this engagingly written book, Colin Reader invites readers to explore the influence of geology and landscape on the development of the cultures of ancient Egypt. After describing today's Egyptian landscape and introducing key elements of the ancient Egyptian worldview, he provides a basic geological toolkit to address issues such as geological time and major earth-forming processes. The developments that gave the geology of Egypt its distinct character are explored, including the uplifting of mountains along the Red Sea coast, the evolution of the Nile river, and the formation of the vast desert areas beyond the Nile Valley. As the story unfolds, elements of Egypt's archaeology are introduced, together with discussions of mining and quarrying, construction in stone, and the ways in which the country's rich geological heritage allowed the culture of ancient Egypt to evolve. Ideal for non-specialists and specialists alike, and supported with over one hundred illustrations, A Gift of Geology takes the reader on a fascinating journey into Egypt's geological landscape and its relationship to the marvels of pharaonic culture." --Provided by publisher.