title: Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction
author:  Ian Shaw 
description: <br><strong>Ian Shaw</strong> is Lecturer in Egyptian Archaeology at the University of Liverpool. He is currently involved in fieldwork at the Gebel el-Asr gneiss quarrying region in Upper Egypt. His books include <em>The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt</em>, <em>Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology</em>, and <em>Exploring Ancient</em> <em>Egypt</em>.<br>
zlib_text: Late Antiquity: A Very Short Introduction
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  VERY SHORT INTRODUCTIONS are for anyone wanting a stimulating and accessible
  way in to a new subject. They are written by experts, and have been published
  in more than 25 languages worldwide.
  
  
  The series began in 1995, and now represents a wide variety of topics in
  history, philosophy, religion, science, and the humanities. The VSI Library
  now contains over 200 volumes—a Very Short Introduction to everything from
  ancient Egypt and Indian philosophy to conceptual art and cosmology—and will
  continue to grow to a library of around 300 titles.
  
  
  
  
  
  **Very Short Introductions available now:**
  
  
  > ADVERTISING Winston Fletcher
  
  
  > AFRICAN HISTORY John Parker and Richard Rathbone
  
  
  > AGNOSTICISM Robin Le Poidevin
  
  
  > AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS L. Sandy Maisel
  
  
  > THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY Charles O. Jones
  
  
  > ANARCHISM Colin Ward
  
  
  > ANCIENT EGYPT Ian Shaw
  
  
  > ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY Julia Annas
  
  
  > ANCIENT WARFARE Harry Sidebottom
  
  