Ancient Egyptian Warfare: Tactics, Weaponry and Ideology of the Pharaohs (Casemate Short History)

A concise introduction to Ancient Egyptian warfare from the Neolithic period through to the Iron Age, covering everything from battle tactics to weaponry and battle injuries. The excellent preservation of Egyptian artifacts including bows, axes and chariots, means that it is possible to track the changing nature of Egyptian military technology, as well as the equipment and ideas that were adopted from other civilizations of the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East. As well as discussing such crucial issues as military strategy, martial ideology, construction of fortresses and waging of siege warfare, this book includes the study of practical questions of life, death and survival of individual soldiers on the battlefield.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Timeline; Interpreting the Evidence; Battle scenes on Protodynastic palettes and in Old and Middle Kingdom temples and private tombs; Fortresses and siege warfare; The battle reliefs in New Kingdom temples; Treatment of the dead and injured; Aims and Ideology of Battle in the New Kingdom; Naval Battles; Weapons and Military Technology; The Soldier's Experience of Battle; War and Peace: Bronze Age Diplomacy; Conclusion; Further Reading; Acknowledgements; Index