Whose Pharoahs?

Egypt's rich and celebrated ancient past has served many causes throughout history - in both Egypt and the West. Concentrating on the era from Napoleon's conquest and the discovery of theRosetta Stone to the outbreak of World War I, this book examines the evolution of Egyptian archaeology in the context of Western imperialism and nascent Egyptian nationalism. The book writes Egyptians into the history of archaeology and museums in their own country and shows how changing perceptions of the past helped shape ideas of modern national identity.