Chronicles the rise and fall of ancient Egypt, describing geographic factors in the civilization's development; each of the dynasties; and the late empire and post-empire period. Includes a chronology.

Originally published in 1951 under title: The burden of Egypt.

The black land : geographic features of Egypt --Out of the mud : the long prehistoric struggle -- The search for security and order : Dynasties 1-3 (about 3100-2700 B.C.) -- The king and God : Dynasties 4-6 (about 2700-2200 B.C.) -- The first illness : Dynasties 7-11 (about 2200-2050 B.C.) -- The king as the good shepherd : Dynasties 11-12 (about 2050-1800 B.C.) -- The great humiliation : Dynasties 13-17 (about 1800-1550 B.C.) -- Far frontiers : earlier Dynasty 18 (about 1550-1375 B.C.) -- Irrepressible conflict : later Dynasty 18 (about 1375-1325) -- Where is the glory? : Dynasties 18-20 (about 1325-1100 B.C.) -- The broken reed : Late Empire and Post-Empire (1350 B.C. and after)