NationMaster - Statistics on Egypt. facts and figures, stats and information on Egyptian economy, crime, people, government, health and education. 21 maps and 85 flags

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Alternative names:

Egypt, Arab Republic of Egypt, Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah, Misr

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Egypt: Administrative Divisions	Egypt - Population Density	Egypt and Syria	Egypt - Economic Activity
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COMMENTARY

Liliana gutierrez (library) 12th February 2009	you need to add the nation of things on this website.
ahmed 18th April 2005	I want a map of Greater Cairo.
Ismail 13th April 2005	You can refer to the attached map: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/middle_east_pol_2003.jpg
Ian Graham Staff Editor 31st March 2005	Exactly which countries are in the Middle East is not always clear-cut. Some definitions of the region say that includes Cyprus, the Asian part of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, the countries of the Arabian peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait), and Egypt and Libya. Others apply it in a cultural sense to denote the part of the world that is predominantly Islamic, expanding the definition to include the rest of North Africa along with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Another definition says it is the area bordering the southern and eastern coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The term has also been dismissed as a Eurocentrism, since the region is only east from the perspective of western Europe. But by any definition, Egypt is generally considered as part of the Middle East, though other North African nations may not be.
Packard Bell 31st December 2004	Egypt is a country in North Africa. The main religion is islam. The main language is Arabic. Egypt has a christian (kopts) minority. The British protectorate of Egypt became independent in 1922. It was part of the United Arab Republic from 1958 until 1961 and was renamed Egypt in 1971. The country is now a presidential republic where despite democratic structures there is no fair chance for the opposition.
Michelle Guider 10th November 2004	This is an excellent website and has helped me in my studies