A careful and intensive study of historical sources and a review of the instrumental data of this century have led to this detailed catalogue of earthquakes. Egypt, Arabia, the Red Sea region and the surrounding areas of Libya, Sudan and Ethiopia are studied from the earliest times to the present day. Each earthquake is described as fully as possible from the available data, and is analysed in a geographical and historical context. The completeness of the earthquake catalogue over time is analysed and the range of sources and problems associated with the scrutiny of historical sources is discussed. The information is then placed in a geophysical framework.