Warfare in Ancient Egypt

From early predynastic culture to the supremacy of the New Kingdom, Warfare in Ancient Egypt takes us on a journey which covers 3,000 years of continuous development of arms and armour. Flint hand-axes, wooden staves and stone bludgeons give way to a sophisticated and even elegant military culture that saw the creation of the composite bow, the khepesh, the longsword, the javelin and, of course, the chariot. In this book, Bridget McDermott brings insights to both military history and ancient Egyptian civilisation.

There are fascinating divergences between the ‘official’ images and records of war and the experience of the Egyptian land soldier, and through archaeological and anthropological evidence, McDermott paints a vivid picture of what battle, training and military life was like for the non-elite members of the Egyptian armies.

This richly illustrated book provides a unique and concise overview of all aspects of Egyptian warfare and offers many new insights into the world of pharaohs, chariots, archers and warriors.