In the 660s BC Egypt was a politically fragmented and occupied country.
However, this was to change when a family of local rulers from the city
of Sais declared independence from the Assyrian Empire, and in a few
short years succeeded in bringing about the reunification of Egypt. The
Saites established central government, reformed the economy and promoted
trade. The country became prosperous, achieving a pre-eminent role in
the Mediterranean world. Egypt of the Saite pharaohs is the first
monograph devoted entirely to a detailed exploration of the Saite
Dynasty. It reveals the dynamic nature of the period, the astuteness of
the Saite rulers and their considerable achievements in the political,
economic, administrative and cultural spheres. It will appeal not only
to students of Egyptology but also, because of the interactions of the
Saite Dynasty with the Aegean and Mesopotamia worlds, to anyone
interested in ancient history.