Views of Ancient Egypt Since Napoleon Bonaparte: Imperialism, Colonialism and Modern Appropriations

The discipline of Egyptology has been criticized for being too insular, with little awareness of the development of archaeologies elsewhere. It has remained theoretically underdeveloped. For example the role of Ancient Egypt within Africa has rarely been considered jointly by Egyptologists and Africanists. Egypt's own view of itself has been neglected; views of it in the ancient past, in more recent times and today have remained underexposed.

Encounters with Ancient Egypt is a series of eight books which addresses these issues. The books interrelate, inform and illuminate one another and will appeal to a wide market including academics, students and the general public interested in archaeology, egyptology, anthropology, architecture, design and history.

This book addresses some of the main themes of the study of Egypt during theanineteenth andatwentieth centuries. In a combination of case studies and discursive chapters, the status of Egypt as an important example of traditional Orientalist scholarship, and as an ancient model of imperialism itself, is examined.

Contributions range from studies ofanineteenth century antiquarianism, and the collecting of Egyptian antiquities as an extension of the territorial ambitions and rivalries of the European powers, to explorations of how Egypt is understood and interpreted in contemporary societies. Views of Ancient Egypt also considers the way in which Ancient Egypt has been adopted by less privileged members of some societies as a cultural icon of past greatness."