Nicolas Grimal's description of the political and economic history of the Egyptians is recounted within the framework of an intricate chronology. Grimal aims to transform the raw archaeological sources into a coherent historical sequence. From the first human settlement in the Nile Valley (c. 120,000 BC) to the appearance of Alexander the Great (c. 331 BC), this history blends archaeological and textual evidence into an informed narrative. Numerous quotes from the original documentary sources, such as the funerary autobiographies of individuals and the official royal accounts of military campaigns, are included.
