James Baikie (1866–1931) was a Scottish minister and prolific author who specialized in ancient history and archaeology. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and had a keen interest in the civilizations of the Near East. Though not a field archaeologist himself, Baikie possessed a deep knowledge of the subject and a gift for making academic topics accessible to the public. He wrote several books on the topic, including works on ancient Rome, Greece, and Mesopotamia, but his books on Egyptology are his most well-known. His writing was celebrated for its clear, concise style and its ability to vividly reconstruct the daily life and monumental achievements of ancient peoples. Baikie's work played a significant role in bringing the wonders of the ancient world into the homes of ordinary readers.
