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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Maps of Egypt

Egypt - Economic Activity	Egypt (Shaded Relief) 1997	Suez Bay, Egypt 1856	Egypt - Population Density
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COMMENTARY

Qader 4th November 2009	I want the history about Arabs how they ruled and how they came with Islam in Egypt, in 7th century
Liliana gutierrez (library) 12th February 2009	you need to add the nation of things on this website.
BlacKh 20th July 2005	Surely you masturbate in your contemplations of an Egyptless Africa. Does the racist mind ever rest? Perhaps we should remove Greece from Europe and place it in Asia as Europe, georgraphically, does not exist. This question of where Egypt exist or should exist seems to be mostly a question of White and Arab men, neither of whom are the original inhabitants of the land or generators of its phenomenal legacy. The Legacy is African, created by African men and women. While you chew on that consider this: Before the 19th century, geographers generally referred to Europe as Christendom. Perhaps a better conversation might be how in the world did what is essentially a peninsula (Europe) on the vast Eurasian continent ever come to gain the status of a CONTINENT when in fact its shape, size and location tells us its a peninsula? When we review Tim, Pat and Gregs questions within the context of white Supremacy they become quite disrespectful to the whole of African history. But, this is likely not a consideration within the minds of supremist. Drop the racism/supremism and stop trying to steal yet another land from people of color.
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.
Luigi Romano 30th March 2005	Why isn't Egypt and the rest of North Africa included as part Middle East?
Romano 30th March 2005	Why isn't Egypt and the rest of North Africa included as part Middle East?
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.
Tim 2nd December 2004	Why isn't Egypt and the rest of North Africa included as a part Middle East?
vincent 15th November 2004	thanks for the informations. this has helped me a lot
Tim 10th November 2004	i loved this website. thanx a million!!!
Michelle Guider 10th November 2004	This is an excellent website and has helped me in my studies