Foundations of a Civilization. In Ancient Egypt Douglas Brewer shows why an awareness of the earliest phase of Egyptian history is crucial to understanding of later Egyptian culture.nbsp Beginning with a quick review of the fields of Egyptology and archaeology, Ancient Egypt takes the reader on a compelling survey of Egypts prehistoric past.nbsp The books tours the NileValley, to explore its impact on all aspects of life, from day-to-day living to regional politics, and introduces the reader to the NileValleys earliest inhabitants and the very first Egyptians.