The introductory chapter provides an overview of the content, aims, and scope of the book. After giving a general description of the main evidence, it explains why Tebtunis is one of the best candidates for a village study in the early Roman Empire, discusses other village studies in Egypt that provide a basis for comparison with Tebtunis, and illustrates how this study contributes to our current knowledge and understanding of ancient society, economy, and culture. The chapter also includes a discussion on the validity of the Egyptian evidence and on the typicality of the Fayum, and a description of the site of Tebtunis, with a focus on the extant houses, including the main written evidence for the early Roman period. The last two sections outline the main aims of the book, explaining how this study fits the definition of microhistory, and provide an overview of the chapters.