The rise and fall of an incredible dynasty
5 stars I chose to read The Last Dynasty to fulfill a long dormant desire to understand more about ancient Egypt. So exotic and interesting, I have always felt a curiosity about this ancient civilization. Egypt prized learning, being an advanced civilization back at their peak, but this large tome covers the managed decline under the Macedonian Ptolemaic pharaohs, who followed on after Alexander the Great. The most notable, or widely known, being the last pharaoh, Cleopatra. Yes, that Cleopatra who was entangled with Caesar then Mark Antony. This novel is packed full of amazing day-to-day facts and information. Book keeping, taxation records, garbage dumps and graffiti being great sources of useful information. The ancients were clearly keen on keeping all manner of documentation, collecting such a vast amount of information must have been a huge job. I found it all incredible and not unlike how societies are run today. Things certainly have not changed much but it is...
