Arranged by region, the book takes the reader along the ancient settlements that were established on the banks of the River Nile. Through beautiful photographs and expert captions, the reader gains an understanding of how ancient Egypt developed its trade links and became such a powerful force across North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

The history, art and culture of ancient Egypt spanned thousands of years. Grand structures, including pyramids, temples and colossal statues, have endured for thousands of years more, allowing people today to witness the achievements of this great ancient civilization. Some of the artifacts, temples and ruins detailed in this book will be easily recognizable - the Great Sphinx of Giza, the gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamen and the walls covered by complex and colourful symbols and images known as hieroglyphs. Many more visual examples dating from the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BCE) to the end of the Greco-Roman Period (332 BCE-395 CE) may be less familiar, but will delight readers nonetheless.