The Last Dynasty: Ancient Egypt from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra

Review

by Arienne King
published on 12 March 2025

Toby Wilkinson's "The Last Dynasty" is a definitive text on Ptolemaic Egypt. It covers the rise and fall of the Ptolemaic kings and queens, spanning from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra VII. Equally importantly, the author takes time to explore how life in Egypt changed under Greek rule. It stands as one of the most comprehensive and well-written texts on the Ptolemaic dynasty.

On a large scale, the book covers the history of Egypt from Alexander's conquest until the death of Cleopatra VII. It chronicles the beginnings of Greek rule over Egypt and the ways that the Ptolemaic dynasty attempted to bend their new kingdom to their will. Under their domination, Egypt's culture, economy, and language were transformed into something neither wholly Greek nor wholly Egyptian.

The overall arc of the book covers Ptolemaic Egypt's initial prosperity and expansion, followed by civil war and decline. It ends with the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BCE, after nearly 300 years of Greek rule. Its 14 chapters are divided into four sections: Apotheosis, Crisis, Neurosis, and Nemesis. The intriguing interplay between kings, queens, generals, and politicians is drawn in very human terms.

The book is equally interesting when it zooms in on the smaller lives of ordinary people. Wilkinson pulls readers into the daily routines of Egypt under Greek rule. They are introduced to its cities, its industries, and its landscapes. The focus on ordinary life in Ptolemaic Egypt helps readers to understand the true cost of the dynasty’s political and military ambitions and to trace the roots of Egyptian resistance to Greek rule. The Ptolemies’ military might was financed with Egypt’s gold, agriculture, and industry, which meant that economic disruptions at home had the potential to break their international power.

Besides civil conflict, the other great threat to Ptolemaic survival was the rise of the Roman Republic. This famous alliance-turned-rivalry brought about the end of Ptolemaic Egypt as it succumbed to the erosion of its geopolitical power. The latter Ptolemies’ attempts to ally themselves with Rome are the focus of the last few chapters, most notably the ones about Cleopatra VII and her father Ptolemy XII.

Maps and full-color plates illustrate the book, maps at the beginning, and plates at the back. It has a larger selection of images than most similar titles. Supplementary material such as family trees, timelines, and lists of rulers helps readers to keep track of major figures and events. This broad, detailed portrait of Ptolemaic Egypt is drawn from a dizzying number of primary and secondary sources. This literature is referenced in the notes, source section, and bibliography at the back of the book. Students will likely find this book valuable as a primer to the period.

Several recent and forthcoming books aim to tackle the Ptolemaic period, with varying levels of success. However, Wilkinson's work will likely be one of the most widely used of these books, being simultaneously rigorous and enjoyable. The most similar existing title in terms of scope and depth would be Günther Hölbl’s A History of the Ptolemaic Empire (2000), which is considerably denser and less approachable. Another similar title is Michel Chauveau’s Egypt in the Age of Cleopatra (1997), which is somewhat dated and not quite as broad.

Toby Wilkinson is an Egyptologist who received his PhD from Cambridge University in 1993. He has written several books on ancient Egypt, including The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt (2010). Wilkinson is currently a Fellow of Clare College, the Society of Antiquaries, and the Royal Historical Society.

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