Publisher's Synopsis
The last fifty years have seen extensive research of the ancient ports on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, the mines and quarries in the region, and the road systems connecting these to the Nile Valley. What has been missing is a systematic study of the peoples of the Eastern Desert in whose territories these activities took place. Hans Barnard and Kim Duistermaat's The History of the Peoples of the Eastern Desert aims to fill this gap, clearly demonstrating that despite a harsh environment and scholarly neglect, the native inhabitants of the Eastern Desert have their own culture and history. Divided into two parts-the first covering the Holocene until Alexander the Great, and the second the last two and a half millennia-this volume brings together the leading authorities on the area and its peoples to provide an overview of the history of the Eastern Desert that is unparalleled for its comprehensiveness. The extensive range of topics addressed include among them specific historical periods, natural resources, nomadic survival strategies, ancient textual data, the interaction between Christian hermits and their neighbors, and more. Each chapter summarizes, evaluates, and discusses the historical significance of relevant archaeological and written sources, providing readers with an essential starting point for future research on the Eastern Desert.
