Promotional Information

Donald Redford is one of the few scholars in Egyptology blessed with the ability to convey complex ideas in a lively manner that engages the attention of lay readers. At the same time, his historical insights and depth of knowledge are widely respected in the field, and in his new work, he shows why. -- Ogden Goelet, New York University This engrossing narrative takes us away from the modern racial politics into a world strikingly different from our own, where war and conquest were a present reality, and Egyptians and Nubians regarded each other as foreigners. Donald Redford shows us why historical writing, if it is to be truly informative, must always be based directly on ancient documents and accurate understanding of the archaeological evidence. -- Mary Lefkowitz, author of Not Out of Africa and co-editor of Black Athena Revisited

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Preface
Introduction
1. Egyptians and Nubians
2. The Problem of Frontiers
3. Nubia: Egypt's Primary Sphere of Influence
4. "Plotting in Their Valleys": The Unruly Tribesmen
5. From Chiefdom to State and Back Again: The Final Conquest of Kush
6. The Egyptian Empire in Kush
7. The Silent Years: The Abandonment of Lower Nubia and the Rise of Napata
8. The Sudan Invades Egypt
9. The Invasion of Piankhy
10. The Twenty-fourth Dynasty
11. The Resistance to Assyrian Expansion
12. "Taharqa the Conqueror"
13. Egypt of the "Black Pharaohs"
14. Thebes under the Twenty-fifth Dynasty
15. The End of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty in Egypt
Epilogue
List of Abbreviations
Notes
Index

About the Author

Donald B. Redford is a professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies at the Pennsylvania State University. Among his many books are (as editor) The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt and The Oxford Essential Guide to Egyptian Mythology, and (as author) Akhenaten, the Heretic King and Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.

Reviews

The first full-scale study in English of relations between Egypt and Nubia in antiquity... Trenchant and illuminating observations abound. Choice A welcome addition... Professor Redford has demonstrated that more obscure material can be presented in a way that is fresh, exciting and accessible. -- Chris Naunton Egyptian Archaeology A detailed but spirited account of a theme that has often been marred by tendentiousness and partial thinking. -- John Ray American Historical Review From Slave to Pharaoh presents a lively account of this period of Nubian rule during Egypt's 25th Dynasty. -- Mariam Ayad Odyssey A timely contribution to the rapidly growing literature on Nubian and Sudanese studies. -- Richard A. Lobban, Jr. International Journal of African Historical Studies A well-argued synthesis for this period, its politics, administration, and building activity. -- Arthur Verhoogt Bulletin of the American Society of Papryologists An easily readable volume that offers considerable insight into a convoluted period of Egyptian history. -- Jacke Phillips Journal of African History A welcome addition... There is much that should stimulate interest in this fascinating area. -- David Edwards Chronique d'Egypte The first example in history in history of reverse colonization! -- Peter J. Brand Patterns of Prejudice