The Discover Egypt CD-ROM is designed to give prospective visitors to the land of the Pharaohs an idea of what they may see when they visit, whilst providing an insight into the civilisation that was behind the construction of some of the world's most famous archaeological sites.The package is very strong on the history and civilisation of ancient Egypt--there are detailed descriptions of many of the elements of family and social life. With quotes from authorities such as Herodotus, and details as abstruse as hairstyle, the result is a strange combination of the easy-going and the erudite. When it comes to the main archaeological sites, the viewer is taken on a virtual tour, with illustrations, video footage (but not always of the best quality, it has to be said), and sections putting each site into context.
The detail on the history and culture is very good, but it is a pity that there is less detailed information on contemporary Egypt. After all, while travellers go mainly to see the sites of the ancient culture, they are visiting the modern country, and the package would have benefited from the inclusion of a few more contemporary features. Nevertheless, with a wealth of detail and historical information, this will be a good introduction for most visitors planning their trips to the Pyramids and sites such as Luxor. --Toby Green
Titles in this series include Discover France, Discover Great Britain, Discover Greece, Discover Italy, Discover Spain, Discover The Med and Discover The Orient.
