Modern Egypt

Europeans in Egypt: (1798-1952)

Napoleon invaded Egypt in  July 1798; in reality, however, the French invasion was another campaign designed to control the land route and ultimately the sea route to India, thwarting the British advances in the Indian Ocean. Although the French were officially in Egypt for only three years under Napoleon Bonaparte, they exerted a profound influence on subsequent culture and reopened the rest of the world’s eyes to Egypt’s wonders-and strategic geographical position.

As soon as the French evacuated Egypt the Albanian regiment, under their commander Mohammed Ali, revolted against the Ottomans, who were ruling Egypt at the time. The people of Cairo turned to Mohammed Ali to restore order and the Ottoman Sultan duly confirmed their choice naming him viceroy in 1801. He founded a dynasty that ruled until June 1952, modern Egypt had its beginnings in this era: railroads and aqueducts; Cairo transformed by a building boom in the 1860s; and the Suez Canal built under Ismail Pasha in 1869. But less than ten years later, Egypt sold its shares in the Canal to the British to finance mountainous debts. The British ruled in fact and then, from 1882, in name as well. Beginning in 1919, the banner of independence was raised repeatedly. The British Protectorate officially came to an end in 1936, but real independence was not achieved until a bloodless coup by the Free Officers, led by Gamal Abdel Nasser, ended the British-backed reign of King Farouk in 1952. Egypt at last was Egyptian again.

In June 1952 a secret group of army officers which became known as the Free Officers, seized power and forced Egypt’s ruler to abdicate in favor of his son, Ahmed Fuad. Eleven months later the young king was likewise dispossessed. Egypt was declared a republic and was ruled by General Mohammed Naguib. In July 1954 negotiations with the British resulted in an agreement to withdraw all foreign troops within 20 months, although the bases in the Canal Zone were to be kept operational. Later Nasser was elected president and one of the immediate actions was the redistribution of land among the farmers.

During Nassers regime, The Aswan High Dam project was started, The Suez Canal was nationalized, Israel, France and Britain invaded Egypt, but withdrew after a short while because of international protest, and the infamous ‘Six Day War’ (1967) tool place, where Israel attacks Egypt and hence occupies the Sinai peninsula. In 1970 Nasser dies and gives over his power to Sadat.

A man of war and peace: Sadat Era (1970 – 1981)

Anwar al-Sadat, one of the group of Free Officers and Nasser’s vice-president ruled the country after Nasser’s death. After much planning Israeli-occupied Sinai was invaded by the Egyptian army on 6 October 1973. The Egyptian attack against the Israeli forces was an unprecedented success and revolutionized the tactics of warfare. Shortly after, restrictions on foreign investment and exchange control were lifted and an Open Door Policy was launched. What people most remember Sadat for was first and foremost his call for peace in the region when he visited Jerusalem, and his unfortunate assassination in 1981 by Muslim fundamentalists. He also completed the Aswan High Dam.

Mubarak accelerated the process of privatization and developed Egypt’s tourist infrastructure which enhanced its lucrative tourist industry. More impressively, he managed to resume diplomatic and trade relations with moderate Arab countries while maintaining the treaty with Israel. By the end of the 1980s Egypt was once again playing a leading role in Arab politics.  With gradual economic reform and major improvements, Egypt is on the right track towards globalization.