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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Toby Wilkinson (Author), Michael Page (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)
4.1 on Goodreads
5,501 ratings
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In this landmark work, one of the world's most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its final absorption into the Roman Empire - 3,000 years of wild drama, bold spectacle, and unforgettable characters.

Award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson captures not only the lavish pomp and artistic grandeur of this land of pyramids and pharaohs but for the first time reveals the constant propaganda and repression that were its foundations. Drawing upon 40 years of archaeological research, Wilkinson takes us inside an exotic tribal society with a pre-monetary economy and decadent, divine kings who ruled with all-too-recognizable human emotions.

Riveting and revelatory, filled with new information and unique interpretations, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt will become the standard source about this great civilization, one that lasted - so far - longer than any other.

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  1. Listening Length
    18 hours and 53 minutes
  2. Author
    Toby Wilkinson
  3. Narrator
    Michael Page
  4. Audible release date
    September 12, 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B075FWTV6M
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 18 hours and 53 minutes
Author Toby Wilkinson
Narrator Michael Page
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 12, 2017
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B075FWTV6M
Best Sellers Rank #57,192 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#21 in Egyptian History (Audible Books & Originals)
#21 in Ancient Egyptian History (Audible Books & Originals)
#98 in History of Civilization

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,567 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book's information excellent, comprehensive, and useful. They describe it as an enjoyable, credible, and engaging read. Readers praise the writing as good, unique, and concise. They also describe the history as amazing and interesting. However, some feel the story is not riveting and the excessive details eclipse the storyline.

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Information qualityReadableReadabilityHistoryEase of useStory qualityPacing
72 customers mention "Information quality"70 positive2 negative

Customers find the book excellent, fascinating, and comprehensive. They say it provides a wealth of information about ancient Egypt. Readers also appreciate the detailed insights into the history of the Egyptian Empire. Overall, they describe the book as a great reference for anyone to read.

"...Every little detail and nuance is covered here. Much of it is incredibly interesting and engaging and much of it feels tedious and boring...." Read more

"...Mertz' Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs, while its scholarly insight and argumentation make me think of Barry Kemp's Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a..." Read more

"...What impressed me the most was the breadth of detail Wilkinson includes in his history - of course the construction of monuments, rise and fall of..." Read more

"Toby Wilkinson is a superbly talented writer. He knows how to tell a story, and how to write history as the exciting series of stories that it is...." Read more

54 customers mention "Readable"41 positive13 negative

Customers find the book very readable, with unique written language. They say it's ideal for general readers with a serious interest in the topic. Readers also mention the writing is concise and accessible.

"...Its accessibility and charm reminds me of Barbara Mertz' Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs, while its scholarly insight and argumentation make me..." Read more

"Toby Wilkinson is a superbly talented writer. He knows how to tell a story, and how to write history as the exciting series of stories that it is...." Read more

"...Wilkinson writes in a very accessible style...." Read more

"...very long sequence of dynasties, verging on a laundry list that lacks interpretation...." Read more

52 customers mention "Readability"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book wonderful, enjoyable, and excellent. They say it does a credible job of providing a complete overview. Readers also mention the book is engaging and thorough.

"...Much of it is incredibly interesting and engaging and much of it feels tedious and boring. But, it was totally worth it." Read more

"...And it is a marvelous book for anyone who wants to be up to date on the latest discoveries and revelations...." Read more

"Wonderful first read on ancient Egypt.Wilkinson’s stark interpretation of the lives of the general population is satisfying...." Read more

"...However, it was still a great read and I'd recommend it to any fellow history buff looking for an introduction into Ancient Egypt." Read more

27 customers mention "History"24 positive3 negative

Customers find the history of ancient Egypt amazing, good, and fascinating. They say it explains changes from dynasty to dynasty and follows both cultural, architectural, and religious aspects.

"Wilkinson's _The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt_ is an outstanding history of ancient Egypt from the founding of the first dynasty in 2950 BCE to..." Read more

"...I was amazed at just how hideous it is. The history itself is okay -- stuff you will read anywhere, not much in the most up-to-date research, dated..." Read more

"A greatly detailed history of ancient Egypt, from pre-dynastic to Roman times...." Read more

"...Read the book and you'll have a broad understanding of ancient Egypt." Read more

6 customers mention "Ease of use"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, skim, and hard to put down. They also say it's fascinating and buying it was easy.

"Very complete. Lots of detail, but also easy to skim while getting the high points and overall flow and sequence of events ——-" Read more

"Great book. Found it fascinating and hard to put down. I was amazed at how far back the lineage of Pharoahs went back." Read more

"...I found the writing to be good, easy to follow and systematic. I enjoyed the book very much." Read more

"...Wilkinson makes it easy." Read more

7 customers mention "Story quality"0 positive7 negative

Customers find the story not good, riveting, and boring. They say the excessive details eclipse the storyline and miss some of its soul. Readers also mention the book is full of conjectural narratives not backed up by fact.

"...Much of it is incredibly interesting and engaging and much of it feels tedious and boring. But, it was totally worth it." Read more

"...Again, trite. I hate to reuse the word but it's late and I can't think of another one...." Read more

"...As a reader, I felt that the excessive details eclipsed the storyline and missed some of the "soul" of Egypt's rise and fall...." Read more

"...It's not the most riveting because it's not all celebratory, but it's the book I trust the most." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book a little bit slow.

"...Wilkinson writes in a very accessible style. The book's start is a little dry, due to the scarcity of written sources for that era, but soon the..." Read more

"...Let it be known that the middle of this book ran a tad dry, hence only 4 stars...." Read more

"A good book if a little bit dry." Read more

"Informative, Well Written But Dry..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Josh
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! LOTS of information… Whew.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2024
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What a book! Just incredible amounts of information. Every little detail and nuance is covered here. Much of it is incredibly interesting and engaging and much of it feels tedious and boring. But, it was totally worth it.
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Gregory S. King-owen
4.0 out of 5 stars Splendid, quirky, gritty...An altogether fascinating retelling of Egyptian History
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2011
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Despite having a doctorate in early American history, I have been fascinated with Ancient Egypt since I can remember. And, having read Toby Wilkinson's earlier works (Early Dynastic Egypt and Genesis of the Pharaohs, in particular), I knew that I would have to read this latest interpretation of the course of ancient Egyptian history. The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt is nothing short of magnificent, with a narrative thread focusing on both the glorious and gritty sides of Egyptian life as fostered by the Egyptian state's exertion of coercive power.

Organized chronologically, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt returns time and again to the problems of state power. States rise and fall, power ebbs and flows: Egypt's leaders attempted to uphold the forces of truth and order against those of chaos and disarray. To do so required developing state infrastructures and means of coercing the appropriation of both labor and material goods to build the glorious monuments that so capture the public's imagined Egypt. From the pyramids to Abu Simbel, the projection of Egyptian glory depended on breaking the backs of the people who toiled incessantly in service to the state. Indeed, the twin themes of ideology (religion, royal divinity) and administration (bureaucracies, taxation, etc.) repeatedly resurface to highlight just how the state secured support for its regime and managed that support. When both aspects of state control broke down, Egypt entered periodically into times of disorder and chaos.

Readers expecting a romantic view of Ancient Egypt focused on the archaeological treasures will probably be disappointed to be reminded of the costs of Egyptian grandeur. Readers hoping for a more cultural approach to Egyptian history--an extended exploration of religion, art, music, and the like--will probably be less satisfied with Wilkinson's focus upon the state. To be sure, Wilkinson brings these matters up when they are needed but gives them no extended treatment. The excellent bibliography and notes, however, do provide additional resources to investigate topics of interest; moreover, the notes detail Wilkinson's own interpretive engagement with Egyptian historiography, making his book much more valuable to others besides the casual reader.

Despite the book's populist tone, readers may be put off by content density of some chapters. At times, a bewildering array of names and places rush off the page, forcing the reader to consult his handy copies of The Dictionary of Ancient Egypt or the Penguin Atlas of Ancient Egypt. Those without sufficient reference material would perhaps have been well served by a glossary, which, although it does lengthen the book, does provide readers with a handy reference when there are simply too many names to conjure with. The writing style itself is fairly popular, with few words that might trip up readers. Frequent references to British history--especially comparisons to how monarchies have exercised state power across the ages--might be off putting to many American readers, but, it seems to me that the implied arguments by analogy do serve a purpose in highlighting how states have little changed since the Ancient Egyptians invented statehood. Color and black and white illustrations, along with excellent maps, complement the narrative.

Overall, Toby Wilkinson's The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt seems to combine the best features of the histories that I've come to love. Its accessibility and charm reminds me of Barbara Mertz' Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs, while its scholarly insight and argumentation make me think of Barry Kemp's Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. To me, the joy of a book is being able to re-read it and come to new insights and appreciation each time and I am sure that such will be the case with The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt.
156 people found this helpful
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doc peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars marvelously written, detailed and broad in scope
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012
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Wilkinson's _The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt_ is an outstanding history of ancient Egypt from the founding of the first dynasty in 2950 BCE to the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. In tracing the history of ancient Egypt, Wilkinson advances a view of ancient Egypt as an authoritarian system that was an active participant in the vibrant commerical network that crisscrossed the Near East and Mediterranean.

What impressed me the most was the breadth of detail Wilkinson includes in his history - of course the construction of monuments, rise and fall of dynasties and conquests (and losses) of kings is discussed, but so are the roles and expectations of workaday Egyptians, the political organization (and its inherent weaknesses), the complex interplay of economics, taxation and public policy on the welfare of the Egyptian state and of everyday Egyptians. The changes in literature and art - and how they are reflective of the larger societal changes taking place in ancient Egypt were icing on an already rich and dense cake.

Another strength of the book Wilkinson's scope: the book does not end with the implosion of the New Kingdom, which was refreshing to me. This decision clearly places Egypt in its African context, which may be a suprise to some readers, but it reflects current scholarship and simply makes historical (and geographical) sense: Egypt's long relationship (both as conquorer and conquored) with Nubia and the incursions (and eventual conquest by) the Lybians are facets of ancient Egypt that are too often overlooked or downplayed. His discussion of the Ptolmiac period was a bit cursory for my taste, but given its relative briefness in comparison to the breadth of the history of ancient Egypt, it is understandable.

A final point of praise for the book are both the color plates (there are over 50) and the extensive annotated bibliography. The plates provide clear, color images to have a deeper grasp of the points Wilkinson makes about form, metaphor and changes in art. The bibliography includes both classic works on ancient Egypt as well as more recent scholarship and will certainly give me many months of further reading as a result.

_The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt_ is an accessable text written by a foremost expert on the field (Wilkinson is a professor of Egyptlolgy at Cambridge) that impresses in its detail and its breadth. Highly recommended.
14 people found this helpful
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Anne Rice
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, a joy to read; highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2013
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Toby Wilkinson is a superbly talented writer. He knows how to tell a story, and how to write history as the exciting series of stories that it is. In this book he delivers the wonders and mysteries of ancient Egypt to the popular reader with depth and grace. This is simply a joy to read. Curl up in a comfortable chair and dig in. ---- I'm so thrilled with this book that I'm devouring it as if I were eating chocolate. It will make a perfect gift for young adults in the family who have not yet discovered the tantalizing beauty of ancient Egyptian culture. And it is a marvelous book for anyone who wants to be up to date on the latest discoveries and revelations. How thrilling to read about the monoliths of Nabta Playa, as well as to revisit the familiar stories of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen, Ramses II and Ramses III and move on to the great and seductive Cleopatra with prose that just rolls so beautifully along. ---- I'm so glad we have a writer of this knowledge and skill to deliver the great story of the Nile valley to new generations. ---- I haven't enjoyed a book on Egypt or archaeology so much since I read "Lost Worlds" when I was a kid. And this is fact filled, accurate, current, comprehensive and rich --- as well as being fun.
67 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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M.E.W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2024
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So easy to read and filled with accurate ancient egyptian history. Loved, that in the preface the author shows a time line of events of other countries.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Detalhado e surpreendente.
Reviewed in Brazil on August 20, 2023
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Embora bastante aprofundado, o livro consegue ser de fácil leitura. Gostei muito.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
Reviewed in Italy on November 3, 2024
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This book is written so well it's difficult to stop reading it. Informative in the best way.
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Joe S
5.0 out of 5 stars Rise and fall of ancient Egypt
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2024
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The book covers the earliest archaeological evidence we have of an Egypt, to the fall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom at the hands of Rome, drawing on historical writings with physical evidence.
I recently read John Romer's three part biography, which was almost entirely an archaeological study, which was fine but a little dry. In contrast I found this book much more enjoyable and readable. At about 500 pages it isn't vast but is long enough to contain the right amount of detail without missing anything important, without becoming dull or too scholarly. An enjoyable book for the casual reader or the historian. Highly recommended.
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S.Plaum
5.0 out of 5 stars good quality
Reviewed in Germany on May 29, 2024
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fast delivery book in nice condition will buy there again
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