I just finished "The History of Ancient Egypt" course by Prof Bob Brier from The Great Courses.
This is a great, comprehensive course on the 3000-plus history of the Ancient Egypt Civilization. I bought the DVD version and listened to it in my car. When I started, I didn't really know much about Ancient Egypt except for some vague ideas about Ramses (being the Pharaoh during Moses' era) and Ptolemi's era (being one of Alexander the Great's generals).
This 48-half-hour-lecture course is so comprehensive that after I finished it, I feel I am more knowledgable on the following topics:
1. How Napoleon was instrumental as a catalyst for important discoveries of Ancient Egypt.
2. How the great, important pyramids of Ancient Egypt were actually constructed in the Old Kingdom (but not later) - circa 2,600 BC.
3. How the Hyksos 'came into' Egypt during the second intermediate period (circa 1,700 BC) and this is perhaps related to when Joseph arrived in Egypt.
4. The fabulous 18th Dynasty (of the New Kingdom) with characters including: Tuthmosis I, Queen Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, the mysterious Akhenaten, his Queen Nefertiti, their son Tutanhkhamen, his wife Ankhesenamen.
5. A great detour on mummies and how to create a modern mummy!
6. Ramses the Great during Moses' Exodus era. (Dynasty XIX).
7. Lastly, Alexander the Great, the Ptolemis, and Cleopatra (the last Pharaoh).
I am now interested to go with my wife and family to visit Egypt one day and go through a comprehensive historical tour of key locations. Prof Bob Brier also conducts a tour (I found this through Google) of Egypt: http://www.farhorizons.com/trips/EgyptAfrica/MajestyofEgypt/Travel-with-Bob-Brier-on-MajestyofEgypt.php - I look forward to going there one day.
Prof Bob Brier is a great great storyteller. One of the best professors in "The Great Courses".
