A Short History of Modern EgyptThe history of Egypt from the Arab conquest in 639 to the present day introduces the reader to the central paradox of Egyptian identity - the alienation of the Egyptian from his rulers, who until 1952 were foreigners, and the continuity of an area with fixed boundaries which has existed for millenia. The first three chapters deal with the Arab conquest, the age of the mamluks and Egypt's incorporation into the Ottoman Empire, while the later part of the book examines the early development of the modern state under Muhammad Ali, the liberal experiment after 1922, the Nasser years and the legacy Nasser bequeathed to his successors, Sadat and Mubarak. The author has now updated the volume to consider Egypt's role in the Gulf War and the ways in which the government has dealt with an increase in terrorism. Now that President Mubarak has been elected for a third term, the author asks if a new, more liberal direction is possible in the face of continuing uncertainty. |
Contents
The Arab conquest of Egypt to the end of the Ayyubi dynasty 6391250 | 1 |
The age of the mamluks 12501516 | 26 |
The Ottoman age 15161805 | 40 |
The beginning of the state system 18051922 | 54 |
The liberal experiment 192252 | 82 |
The Nasser years 195270 | 107 |
From Sadat to Mubarak 1970 to the present day | 132 |
| 148 | |
| 151 | |
Common terms and phrases
Abbassi administration agricultural Alexandria alienated allowed amirs appointed Arab artisans assassinated Baibars became become believed British army British government cabinet Cairo caliph capital century Copts corvée Cromer Crusaders dominated dynasty economic Egyptian army Egyptian government elite empire European evacuation export faddans fallah fallahin famine Fatimi fighting followed forces foreign French Fuad funds Fustat governor groups Hijaz industries Islam Ismail Israel Israelis Khedive king labour land landowners leader liberal mamluks merchants military minister Mongol Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali's Muslim Nahhas Nasser nationalist native Egyptian negotiated Nile occupation officers once Ottoman Ottoman empire palace Palestine Palestinians parliament Pasha period political parties population province Qalawun regime regiments religious rule rulers rumours Sadat Saladin Shajar al-Durr Sidqi soldiers soon Sudan Suez Canal sultan Syria tax-farms taxes territories throne trade treaty troops turned ulama union Upper Egypt vizier Wafd wali Zaghlul