These volumes, written by a distinguished American Egyptologist, were first published in 1906 and 1907. In his introduction to this re-edition, Egyptologist Peter Piccione provides a short biography of the author as well as a historical account of the 5 tomes. Volume 1 discusses the First through the Seventeenth Dynasties; Volume 2, the Eighteenth Dynasty; Volume 3, the Nineteenth Dynasty; and Volume 4, the Twentieth through Twenty-Sixth Dynasties. Volume 5 contains supplementary bibliographies and indices for the previous volumes; Piccione has added a more recent bibliography that proves to be quite useful. Each book offers a description of texts along with comments on historicity and significance, before continuing onto easy-to-understand translations. Many of the texts included are never-before-seen passages, while others are quite popular: the Palermo Stone, Letter of Pepi II, Tale of Sinuhe, Tomb of Rekhmire, Capture of Kadesh, Papyrus Harris, Adoption Stela of Nitocris, and so on. This is the most complete, easy-to-consult translation of Egyptian historical texts ever available in the field of Egyptology. A highly recommended resource for students and scholars.

James Henry Breasted, has left us a reliable source of the translation of the texts on the monuments of Egypt. This five volume set is a must have for anyone interested in a reliable translation of Egyptian monuments. You will find all books written by; James Henry Breasted to be of great value.

These volumes, written by a distinguished American Egyptologist, were first published in 1906 and 1907. In his introduction to this re-edition, Egyptologist Peter Piccione provides a short biography of the author as well as a historical account of the 5 tomes. Volume 1 discusses the First through the Seventeenth Dynasties; Volume 2, the Eighteenth Dynasty; Volume 3, the Nineteenth Dynasty; and Volume 4, the Twentieth through Twenty-Sixth Dynasties. Volume 5 contains supplementary bibliographies and indices for the previous volumes; Piccione has added a more recent bibliography that proves to be quite useful. Each book offers a description of texts along with comments on historicity and significance, before continuing onto easy-to-understand translations. Many of the texts included are never-before-seen passages, while others are quite popular: the Palermo Stone, Letter of Pepi II, Tale of Sinuhe, Tomb of Rekhmire, Capture of Kadesh, Papyrus Harris, Adoption Stela of Nitocris, and so on. This is the most complete, easy-to-consult translation of Egyptian historical texts ever available in the field of Egyptology. A highly recommended resource for students and scholars.

James Henry Breasted, is the founder of American Egyptology. Any Questions you may have regarding the translation of ancient Egyptian text on reliefs will be answered in this five volume set.If by any chance your question is not answered refer to the university of Chicagos Oriental institutes epigraphic survey volumes.

I read this book almost 33 years ago (in the fall of 1968), as one of seven books required for a Humanities class taught at Santa Rosa Junior College by Rabbi Tripp (sic?). I was astonished by the significance of James H. Breasted's thesis, the empirical support for his argument, the cogency of his presentation, and the truly impressive quality of his engaging, erudite, and entirely engrossing style of composition. In brief, Breasted argues (and substantiates with his close attention to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and other forms of evidence)that a truly moral conception of the human condition (and the foundations of conscience)emerged first in Egypt, profoundly influencing the Hebrews, who proceeded to moralize the universe. Breasted traces the dawn of conscience to Egypt. Through the (great many) years since then, Breasted's work has repeatedly come to mind, both for the significance of his thesis and the quality of his writing. Because of this, I decided to check with AMAZON.COM to see if Breasted's wonderful book is still available. It was with great surprise that I found that Philip Myhre has written a (properly adulatory)review of this great book only a little more than a month ago, and that his home town is practically next door. Since this indicates that others might seek out this valuable book, I add my assessment: Read this book. You will not forget it.

If you only read one book about ancient Egypt this is it. The morals, the thoughts, the heart of the ancients are hear on display. It is a book published long ago but the content is as fresh as if it were published today. If you are interested in Egyptian thought and the incredible civilization and culture they produced, this is a book that must be read.

When approaching this book, one might ask why they should read a book so old on such a fluid subject. When you think of the amount of current research being done on the development of Egyptian culture, reading a book 90 years old may seem meaningless. What the book suffers from an obvious lack of modernity, it makes up with it by presenting one of the best studies of Egyptian religion ever written.

Awe still comes to those who stare at the Great Pyramids. How could ancient man, with few tools or equipment build such structures? And, the even bigger question, why? Why would so much be used to build a structure designed for the dead? It is a very good question, and Breasted was one of the first to really offer some clear explanations. Breasted's history is massive in its scope, his written lectures taking you from the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt to the waning days of the New Kingdom. Reading this work gives such a clear and concise answer to so many questions. We learn how Egyptian religion changed, how their view of their pharaohs and their gods developed over centuries. We see the Warrior Kings, the Shepard Kings, the origins of the Judeo Christian ethic, and the mysterious figure of Akhenaten.

The only problem I would have with this book is that in this edition, some of the source material Breasted uses is really mixed in with the actual writing, so as to make it kind of confusing. Still, that is a minor complaint. Breasted is probably the greatest American Orientalist, and his work opened up that field of studies in the United States. If you want to get a grasp on his genius, read this work, it will forever change the way you look at Egypt and ourselves today.

The author, founder of the Oriental Institute in Chicago, opened the doors to all subsequent studies in ancient religion. This is a classic, to be read before anything else on the subject of ancient Egyptian religion. The author describes how the Egyptians developed at an early date a sense of the moral unworthiness of man and a consciousness of deep-seated moral obligation. This is a deep work into the minds of the Ancient Egyptians.

These volumes, written by a distinguished American Egyptologist, were first published in 1906 and 1907. In his introduction to this re-edition, Egyptologist Peter Piccione provides a short biography of the author as well as a historical account of the 5 tomes. Volume 1 discusses the First through the Seventeenth Dynasties; Volume 2, the Eighteenth Dynasty; Volume 3, the Nineteenth Dynasty; and Volume 4, the Twentieth through Twenty-Sixth Dynasties. Volume 5 contains supplementary bibliographies and indices for the previous volumes; Piccione has added a more recent bibliography that proves to be quite useful. Each book offers a description of texts along with comments on historicity and significance, before continuing onto easy-to-understand translations. Many of the texts included are never-before-seen passages, while others are quite popular: the Palermo Stone, Letter of Pepi II, Tale of Sinuhe, Tomb of Rekhmire, Capture of Kadesh, Papyrus Harris, Adoption Stela of Nitocris, and so on. This is the most complete, easy-to-consult translation of Egyptian historical texts ever available in the field of Egyptology. A highly recommended resource for students and scholars.

My copy is the Bantam 1964 reprint of the 1905 classic. Almost a hundred years old, this book still reads surprisingly easily. Whether it's out of date or not, I'm in no position to judge, not being an expert in this field. But I'd assume that a lot of archaeological discoveries must have been made in the last century to make this book somewhat obsolete.

Breasted was the first and foremost American Egyptologist, the founder of the prestigious Oriental Institute of Chicago (the premier archaeology academy in America - featured in Indiana Jones), and the first archaeologist elected to the National Academy of Sciences.(He was also a former President of the American Historical Association, and must have been the only person to have both honors.) I particularly like his opinions of Thuthmosis III, whose 3450th passing is today.

Two other books that may shed some light on the recent findings are "Egypt of the Pharaohs" by Sir Alan Gardiner and "The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt" edited by Ian Shaw.

Thuthmosis III was "the first world-hero," wrote Breasted. But of course he was! Reportedly 4'6" tall, this military genius of ancient Egypt has been compared to Napoleon. Even though tomorrow is the 3450th anniversary of his passing, the rest of the world today know next to nothing about this great forerunner to Alexander and Caesar. Breasted has a whole chapter to him.

This book is a real gem. My copy is the 1964 Bantam reprint of the 1905 classic, and I found it in a used bookstore, hiding in between bigger books. Finding it gave me pleasure not unlike making an archaeological discovery in the Nile Valley.

Breasted was the first and foremost American Egyptologist - of all time. The first American professor in Egyptology, the founder of the famed Oriental Institute in Chicago (on Rockefeller's payroll), elected member of the American Philosophical Society, Breasted was the first archaeologist elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and had the unique distinction of being the former President of the American Historical Association as well (surely the only scientist to enjoy this honor.) No wonder Dr. Indiana Jones came from the Oriental Institute!

Almost a hundred years old, this book still reads surprisingly easily. Recent discoveries may have rendered this book slightly out of date. For this reason I also recommend Nicholas Grimal's "A History of Ancient Egypt," Ian Shaw's "The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt," Alan Gardiner's "Egypt of the Pharaohs," and George Steindorff and Keith Seele's "When Egypt Ruled the East." (I own all these books.) Breasted's monumental work is indispensable, however.

See my review of A History of Egypt, vol 1.

This is the reprint of the 5 volumes originally printed in 1906, so that all these translations are in need of checking with other, more recent interpretations of them. None the less, the impressive task undertook by late Dr. Breasted has not diminished its value with the pass of time, since this is a collection of texts, otherwise accesible only in a wide range of out of print or really inaccesible papers and books. Price is salty, but remember that there are over a 1,000 pages of valuable data on every aspect of ancient Egypt. Worthy and basic!

These volumes, written by a distinguished American Egyptologist, were first published in 1906 and 1907. In his introduction to this re-edition, Egyptologist Peter Piccione provides a short biography of the author as well as a historical account of the 5 tomes. Volume 1 discusses the First through the Seventeenth Dynasties; Volume 2, the Eighteenth Dynasty; Volume 3, the Nineteenth Dynasty; and Volume 4, the Twentieth through Twenty-Sixth Dynasties. Volume 5 contains supplementary bibliographies and indices for the previous volumes; Piccione has added a more recent bibliography that proves to be quite useful. Each book offers a description of texts along with comments on historicity and significance, before continuing onto easy-to-understand translations. Many of the texts included are never-before-seen passages, while others are quite popular: the Palermo Stone, Letter of Pepi II, Tale of Sinuhe, Tomb of Rekhmire, Capture of Kadesh, Papyrus Harris, Adoption Stela of Nitocris, and so on. This is the most complete, easy-to-consult translation of Egyptian historical texts ever available in the field of Egyptology. A highly recommended resource for students and scholars.

This collection is - as Dr. Piccione points out - somewhat dated, assembled as it was - almost 100 years ago (hence only 4 stars). At the time of its original publication it was the pinnacle of its kind and collected together all extant memorials with new translations.
More material - much more - has been garnered since and some of the historical perspectives of Breasted will have - perforce - been pushed off the mark. Still and all - this series gathers togther all of that earlier material that laid the foundation for the egyptology today. Much of that material was then (and is likely still) available only in obscure articles, locations, manuscripts. Here it all is.
By all means, adjust the dates of certain epochs in the light of modern 'knowledge'; but that adjustment is just gravy. Here's the meat.

These volumes, written by a distinguished American Egyptologist, were first published in 1906 and 1907. In his introduction to this re-edition, Egyptologist Peter Piccione provides a short biography of the author as well as a historical account of the 5 tomes. Volume 1 discusses the First through the Seventeenth Dynasties; Volume 2, the Eighteenth Dynasty; Volume 3, the Nineteenth Dynasty; and Volume 4, the Twentieth through Twenty-Sixth Dynasties. Volume 5 contains supplementary bibliographies and indices for the previous volumes; Piccione has added a more recent bibliography that proves to be quite useful. Each book offers a description of texts along with comments on historicity and significance, before continuing onto easy-to-understand translations. Many of the texts included are never-before-seen passages, while others are quite popular: the Palermo Stone, Letter of Pepi II, Tale of Sinuhe, Tomb of Rekhmire, Capture of Kadesh, Papyrus Harris, Adoption Stela of Nitocris, and so on. This is the most complete, easy-to-consult translation of Egyptian historical texts ever available in the field of Egyptology. A highly recommended ressource for students and scholars.