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 interesting to see that so well illustrated.

Under the Ptolemies there was a great influx of Greeks into Egypt. This book goes into great detail on the strengths and weaknesses of a multicultural society and the troubles that brought to this bread basket of the Mediterranean. It also demonstrates how high taxation, when the government coffers are running low, lead to unhappy citizenry, mass emigration, trouble and an even further decline for the government. Do we never learn?

I enjoyed this journey back in time and did find it sad that such a powerful nation and people could be brought so low. As they yoked and conquered other nations, so, too, were they conquered by the Romans. It is a cycle of rise and fall that goes back as far as mankind. All who rise to lofty heights can only decline. That said, this was a well researched, fascinating look at an incredible time in history.