NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Garden City (Cairo)

Cairo (Arabic: قاهرة‎ translit: Qahirah), which means "The Vanquisher" or "The Triumphant", is the capital city of Egypt. It has a metropolitan area population of officially about 15.2 million people, but in reality there might live almost 25 million. Cairo is the seventeenth most populous metropolitan area in the world (the 10th according to 2004 statistics). Cairo is also the most populous metropolitan area and the most populous city in Africa. The city is located at 30°2' North, 31°13' East (30.03333, 31.21667). [1] Image File history File links Cairo_By_Night. ... Image File history File links Al_qahirah_flag. ... Image File history File links Kairo_Seal. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Bobby, Rab, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Beto, Bobadito, and Robban (in Sweden), are all short for Robert). ... Image File history File links Egypt-Al_Qahirah. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... An urban area is a term used to define an area where there is an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... Metropolitan area in Western Tokyo as seen from Tokyo Tower A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Eastern European Time (EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Eastern European Time Central Africa Time Israel Standard Time South Africa Standard Time Central European Summer Time West Africa Summer Time Category: ... Areas that observe daylight saving time Areas that once observed daylight saving time Areas that have never observed daylight saving time A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time, is a conventional local time adopted by... Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) is one of the names of UTC+3 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing Arabic and various other languages, together with various closely related scripts that typically differ in the presence or absence of a few letters. ... Due to the fact that the Arabic language has a number of phonemes that have no equivalent in English or other European languages, a number of different transliteration methods have been invented to represent certain Arabic characters, due to various conflicting goals. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital â€” although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... The city of Chicago, as seen from the sky A city is an urban area that is differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... Metropolitan area in Western Tokyo as seen from Tokyo Tower A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or... This page lists the 100 largest metropolitan areas of the world, ranked by population. ... This is a list of the largest cities of the world estimated for the year 2005. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ...

While al-Qahirah is the official name of the city, in local speech it is typically called simply by the name of the country, Misr (Arabic, مصر) pronounced Masr in the local dialect.

History of Cairo

'Old Cairo' or Al-Fustat was founded in 641 CE and was the first Arab settlement founded in Egypt. Its location was near other previously inhabited cities and monuments including Memphis, Heliopolis, the Giza pyramids and the Byzantine fortress of Babylon-in-Egypt, but was itself a new city built as a military garrison for Arab troops and was the closest central location to Arabia that was accessible to the Nile. Fustat became a regional center of Arabian Islam during the Umayyad period and was where the Umayyad ruler, Marwan II, made his last stand against the Abbasids. Later, during the Fatimid-era Al-Kahira (Cairo) was officially founded in 969 CE as an empirial capital it absorbed Fustat. During its history various dynasties would add suburbs to the city and construct important structures that became known throughout the Islamic world including the Al-Azhar mosque. Conquered by Saladin and ruled by Ayyubids starting in 1171, it remained an important center of the Muslim world. Slave soldiers or Mamluks took-over Egypt and ruled from their capital at Cairo from 1250 to 1517 when they were defeated by the Ottomans. Following Napoleon's brief occupation, an Ottoman officer named Muhammad Ali made Cairo the capital of an independent empire that lasted from 1801 to 1882. The city came under British control until Egypt attained independence in 1922. Fostat (Arabic: Ø§Ù„ÙØ³Ø·Ø§Ø·) was the first capital city of Egypt under Arab rule. ... Memphis was the wife of Epaphus, the founder of Memphis, Egypt in Greek mythology. ... Heliopolis (Greek á¼©Î»Î¯Î¿Ï… Ï€ÏŒÎ»Î¹Ï‚) was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Babylon was a city in Mesopotamia, the ruins of which can be found in present-day Babil Province, Iraq, about 50 miles south of Baghdad. ... The Nile (Arabic: â€Ž, translit: , Ancient Egyptian iteru) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest riverâ€”though not the most voluminousâ€”on Earth. ... The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the grandest architectural legacies of the Umayyads. ... The Califate in 750 From The Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1923 Courtesy of The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II (750-688) (Arabic: Ù…Ø±ÙˆØ§Ù† Ø§Ø¨Ù† Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø§Ø¨Ù† Ù…Ø±ÙˆØ§Ù†) was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. ... Abbasid provinces during the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid Abbasid (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø¨Ù‘Ø§Ø³ÙŠÙ‘ÙˆÙ†, AbbÄsÄ«yÅ«n) is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the Arab Empire, that overthrew the Umayyad caliphs from all but Spain. ... The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-FÄtimiyyÅ«n (Arabic Ø§Ù„ÙØ§Ø·Ù…ÙŠÙˆÙ†) is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Egypt, and the Levant from 5 January 910 to 1171. ... Al-Azhar Islamic university in Cairo Egypt Al-Azhar University is connected to the mosque in Cairo named to honor Fatima Az-Zahraa, the daughter of Muhammad, from whom the Fatimid Dynasty claimed descent. ... Artistic representation of Saladin (1137 - March 4, 1193), Kurdish: SelahedÃ®n AyÃ»bÃ®; ; Saladin or Salah el Din, (Arabic: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø§Ù„Ø£ÙŠÙˆØ¨ÙŠ, Kurdish: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ø§ÛŒÙˆØ¨ÛŒ) (c. ... The Ayyubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Egypt, Iraq in the 12th and 13th centuries. ... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for... Motto: Ø¯ÙˆÙ„Øª Ø§Ø¨Ø¯ Ù…Ø¯Øª Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital SÃ¶ÄŸÃ¼t (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans - 1281â€“1326 Osman I - 1918â€“1922 Mehmed VI... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. ...

Today, Greater Cairo encompasses various historic towns and modern districts into one of the most populous cities in the world. A journey through Cairo is a virtual time travel: from the Pyramids, Saladin's Citadel, the Virgin Mary's Tree, the Sphinx, and ancient Heliopolis, to Al-Azhar, the Mosque of Amr ibn al-A'as, Saqqara, the Hanging Church, and the Cairo Tower. With an estimated population of more than 15 million, Cairo is the largest city in Africa and the Middle East. It is the Capital of Egypt, and indeed its history is intertwined with that of the country. Today, Cairo's official name is Al-Qahira (Cairo), although the name informally used by most Egyptians is "Masr" (Arabic name for Egypt). This is a list of the largest cities of the world estimated for the year 2005. ... The Great Sphinx of Giza with Khafres pyramid in the background. ... The Saladin Citadel of Cairo (Arabic: Ù‚Ù„Ø¹Ø© ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ†) is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Cairo. ... The Great Sphinx at Giza, Egypt The Great Sphinx of Giza is a large half-human Sphinx statue in Egypt, on the Giza Plateau at the west bank of the Nile River, near modern-day Cairo (). It is one of the largest single-stone statues on Earth, and is commonly... Heliopolis (Greek: or ), was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome. ... Al-Azhar Islamic university in Cairo Egypt Al-Azhar University is connected to the mosque in Cairo named to honor Fatima Az-Zahraa, the daughter of Muhammad, from whom the Fatimid Dynasty claimed descent. ... Saqqara (Arabic: Ø³Ù‚Ø§Ø±Ø©) is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid. ... Cairo Tower The Cairo Tower (Arabic: Ø¨Ø±Ø¬ Ø§Ù„Ù…ØµØ±) is free-standing concrete TV tower in Cairo, Egypt. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The current capital of Egypt is Cairo. ...

Era of the Pharaohs (BC 3500 - BC 30)

Long before the pyramids were built, Egypt's northern and southern territories were ruled separately. It was about 5000 years ago that a young prince by the name of Narmer (Menes) unified the Red (North) and White (South) kingdoms to become Egypt's first Pharaoh. As brilliant a politician as he was a warrior, Narmer chose the site of Memphis as his capital. The city was situated at the then Nile Delta tip, along the North-South border, and about 25 km south of today's downtown Cairo. For the next 800 years or so, the first Capital of the Pharaohs prospered under the rule of Zoser, Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mycerinus), Unas, and others. She became the most influential and powerful city in the world, and housed the always and forever World Wonder, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Constructed on the Giza plateau, a necropolis of the city of Memphis on the Nile's west bank, the three Great Pyramids are the ultimate manifestation of political stability and power of the Ruler during the Third and Fourth Dynasties. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 159 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 159 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... The Great Sphinx at Giza, Egypt The Great Sphinx of Giza is a large half-human, half-lion Sphinx statue in Egypt, on the Giza Plateau at the west bank of the Nile River, near modern-day Cairo (). It is one of the largest single-stone statues on Earth, and... The Great Pyramid of Giza, (sometimes spelled Gizeh) is the oldest and last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most famous pyramid in the world. ... Narmer was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled in the 31st century BC. Thought to be the successor to the predynastic Serket, he is considered by some to be the founder of the First dynasty, and therefore the first pharaoh of all Egypt. ... This article refers to the historical Pharaoh. ... Narmer was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled in the 31st century BC. Thought to be the successor to the predynastic Serket, he is considered by some to be the founder of the First dynasty, and therefore the first pharaoh of all Egypt. ... Memphis was the wife of Epaphus, the founder of Memphis, Egypt in Greek mythology. ... Step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, Egypt Netjerikhet Djoser (Turin King List Dsr-it; Manetho Tosarthros) is the best-known pharaoh of the Third dynasty of Egypt, for commissioning the official Imhotep to build his Step Pyramid at Saqqara. ... Khufu Protected by Khnum[1] Horus name Medjedu Nebty name Nebty-r-medjed Golden Horus Bikwy-nub Consort(s) Meritates, Henutsen, plus two other queens whose names are not known[2] Issues Djedefra, Kawab, Khafre, Djedefhor, Banefre, Khufukaef, Hetepheres II, Meresankh II, Khamerernebty[2] Father Sneferu Mother Hetepheres I Died... The name Khafre can refer to: The Pharaoh Khafra, also known as Chephren. ... Menkaura (Greek Mycerinus) was a pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty of Egypt (ca. ... Unas Nomen Unas Nebty name Wadj-em- HorusHiero= Golden Horus Bik-nub-wadj Burial Pyramid of Unas Unas (also Wenis, Oenas, Unis, or Ounas) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, the last king of the Fifth dynasty[2]. He is said to have lived from 2375 BC to 2345 BC... The Great Pyramid of Giza, (sometimes spelled Gizeh) is the oldest and last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most famous pyramid in the world. ... Giza, or Gizah (Arabic, Ø§Ù„Ø¬ÙŠØ²Ø©, transliterated al-Ç§Ä«zah; pronounced in the Cairene dialect of Egyptian Arabic eg-GÄ«za; also sometimes rendered in English as Gizeh, Ghizeh, or Geezeh) is a town in Egypt on the west bank of the Nile river, some 20 km southwest of central Cairo and now... Memphis was the wife of Epaphus, the founder of Memphis, Egypt in Greek mythology. ... The Nile (Arabic: â€Ž, translit: , Ancient Egyptian iteru) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, often regarded as the longest river on Earth, although some sources claim the Amazon in South America is longer. ...

The Romans (BC 30 - AD 641)

No one knows the origin of the name of Babylon-in-Egypt. It may be a corrupted version of the ancient Egyptian per-hapi-n-on, or Nile House of On, a nearby Island. It might have come from the Arabic Bab-ila-on, or gateway to On. Or it may be simply a name the Babylonian prisoners of Pharaoh Sesostris gave to the place. Anyway, Babylon-in-Egypt was more a strategic spot than an intellectual center. With the re-opening of the canal joining the Nile to the Red Sea, the town became the gateway to Persia and India. Control over the Fortress of Babylon therefore meant control over trade. And while Alexandria was the political and intellectual capital of Egypt under the Greeks and the Romans, Babylon became its military stronghold. The year 30 B.C. marked a significant turning point in the history of Egypt and the world at large. It was the year when the victorious Octavian (Augustus) entered Alexandria. His former ally and rival Mark Antony died, and Cleopatra ended her own life, realizing that her time was over. Although Cleopatra was of Greek descent, she, like her ancestors, ruled Egypt as and Egyptian. She was both Queen and Pharaoh. With her death, Egypt simple became just another Roman province, a Roman granary rather than a world power. Babylon was a city in Mesopotamia, the ruins of which can be found in present-day Babil Province, Iraq, about 50 miles south of Baghdad. ... Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was the civilization of the Nile Valley between about 3000 BC and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. As a civilization based on irrigation it is the quintessential example of an hydraulic empire. ... The Nile (Arabic: â€Ž, translit: , Ancient Egyptian iteru) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, often regarded as the longest river on Earth, although some sources claim the Amazon in South America is longer. ... Pharaoh is a title used to refer to any ruler, usually male, of the Egyptian kingdom in the pre-Christian, pre-Islamic period. ... The Nile (Arabic: â€Ž, translit: , Ancient Egyptian iteru) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, often regarded as the longest river on Earth, although some sources claim the Amazon in South America is longer. ... Location of the Red Sea Image:Red Seaimage. ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... Alexandria Modern Alexandria. ... The current capital of Egypt is Cairo. ... Look up Roman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Augustus (Latin: IMPâ€¢CAESARâ€¢DIVIâ€¢Fâ€¢AVGVSTVS;[1] September 23, 63 BCâ€“August 19, AD 14), known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (English Octavian; Latin: Câ€¢IVLIVSâ€¢Câ€¢Fâ€¢CAESARâ€¢OCTAVIANVS) for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, was the first and among the most important of... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: MÂ·ANTONIVSÂ·MÂ·FÂ·MÂ·N[1]) ( 83 BCâ€“August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Look up Roman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Islamic Conquest (641 - 969)

In AD 640 a Muslim army commanded by the Arabian general Amr ibn al-A'as, laid siege to the Fortress of Babylon near what is today Cairo. It was a matter of time before the Byzantine governor of Egypt agreed to peacefully surrender the fortress, and less than a year later, the capital city Alexandria as recorded in the Treaty of Misr. Amr became the first Arab ruler of Egypt and remained so until his death. Even tough the Arabs admired Alexandria's glamor and wealth, they decided to abandon the city. The reason is simple: no body of water was to separate the Egyptian Capital from the Caliph's residence in Medina. Al-Fustat was therefore founded on the East bank of the Nile, outside the walls of the Fortress of Babylon. Deriving its name from the Arabic (and Roman) word for "camp" or "tent", the town was built at the spot where the Arabs camped during the Fortress siege. Here, the the first Mosque in Africa was built, carrying the name of the Arab general, Amr. The new capital grew slowly as Alexandria and other Byzantines went into decline. With the re-opening of the Red Sea Canal, Al-Fustat became the linking bridge between the East and the West. In AD 661, a power struggle took place within the Islamic Caliphate, and Amr, the cunning politician, sided with the rebellious Syrian governor Muawiya, who founded the Umayyad dynasty which ruled from Damascus, against the forces Ali, and even played a major role in legitimizing their reign. Egypt remained loyal to the Umayyads until the collapse of their rule as a result of the Abbasid rebellion in 750. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 194 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 194 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Ë¤Amr ibn al-Ë¤Ä€s (Arabic: Ø¹Ù…Ø±Ùˆ Ø¨Ù† Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø§Øµ) (born c. ... Alexandria Modern Alexandria. ... Alexandria Modern Alexandria. ... Fostat (Arabic: Ø§Ù„ÙØ³Ø·Ø§Ø·) was the first capital city of Egypt under Arab rule. ... The Nile (Arabic: â€Ž, translit: , Ancient Egyptian iteru) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, often regarded as the longest river on Earth, although some sources claim the Amazon in South America is longer. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... Alexandria Modern Alexandria. ... Location of the Red Sea Image:Red Seaimage. ... Fostat (Arabic: Ø§Ù„ÙØ³Ø·Ø§Ø·) was the first capital city of Egypt under Arab rule. ... Muawiya was the name of two Ummayad caliphs. ... The Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the grandest architectural legacies of the Umayyads. ... Damascus at sunset Damascus ( translit: Also commonly: Ø§Ù„Ø´Ø§Ù… ash-ShÄm) is the largest city of Syria and is also the capital. ... Prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him ) was the final prophet in Islam. ... Abbasid provinces during the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid Abbasid (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø¨Ù‘Ø§Ø³ÙŠÙ‘ÙˆÙ†, AbbÄsÄ«yÅ«n) is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the Arab Empire, that overthrew the Umayyad caliphs from all but Spain. ...

The Triumphant City (969 - 1168)

By the 10th Century following the reign of the Abbasid Caliphate and Tulunid dynasty a new power threatened Egypt. This time, the new leader was a Shiite named Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah who established his political and military platform in Tunisia and moved eastward. His legitimacy was supported by his purported claim as a direct descendent of the prophet Muhammed's daughter, Fatima. Egypt was conquered during the reign of one of Billah's successors, Ma'ad al-Muizz Li-Deenillah. In 969, he sent his most skilled general Gawhar, or Jewel, on a campaign to capture Egypt. Gawhar was a former slave from Sicily who converted to Islam. Let us stop here for a while and elaborate on the status of slavery in The Islamic Empire. Strictly speaking, in the Islamic religion, only prisoners of war are to be taken as slaves. By the Tenth Century, however, young men and women from neighboring territories such as the Caucasus and Central Asia were constantly kidnapped and sold in markets. With these two "abundant" sources, the slave market was quite active in The Middle East and North Africa during the Abbasid Caliphate. Unlike in the Western World, slaves in the Islamic Empire were civil servants rather than hard labor workers. Their status would tremendously rise if they converted to Islam. The younger were treated like family members, and the older would become confidants, civil servants, political aides, and even military officers, such as Gawhar. Even Egypt's famous governor Ahmad Ibn-Tulun was the son of a slave, while Kafoor was a former slave himself. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1148x2024, 464 KB) Cairo_gate Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1148x2024, 464 KB) Cairo_gate Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Abbasid provinces during the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid Abbasid was the dynastic name generally given to the caliphs of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the Muslim empire, that overthrew the Umayyid caliphs. ... The Tulunids were the first independent dynasty in Islamic Egypt (868-905). ... Shi‘as (the adjective in Arabic is شيعى shi‘i; English has traditionally used Shiite) which mean follower in Arabic make up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%-35% of all Muslim. ... Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah a. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Fatima may refer to: FÃ¡tima, Portugal, a town in Portugal Our Lady of Fatima, a famous Marian apparition at FÃ¡tima in 1917 Fatima Zahra, daughter of Muhammad and wife of the first Shia Imam. ... Was the fourth Fatamid caliph. ... The Ethnolinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map Russia Georgia Azerbaijan (Azer. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Northern Africa (UN subregion) geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ...

The Age of Saladin and the Crusades (1168 - 1250)

The last Fatimid Caliph was only eighteen when The Seljuks captured Cairo. The Seljuks who came originally form Central Asia had already conquered Syria and Palestine, and established their Capital in Damascus. By 1168, Egypt had become a battle ground between The Seljuks and The Crusaders, with The Fatimids having virtually little or no control, although they sided mostly with the Crusaders. It was in 1168 that The victorious Shirkoh entered Cairo, and was named governor of Egypt by the Sultan of Damascus, Noor-el-Din. When he died a year later, his nephew was immediately appointed as the next governor. He was young - in his early thirties - and full of will. Quickly, he would become one of the most famous figures in Medieval history. His name was Salah-El-Din the Ayyubid, better known in Western history as Saladin. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 313 KB)I took this picture during my visit to Cairo. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 313 KB)I took this picture during my visit to Cairo. ... The Saladin Citadel of Cairo (Arabic: Ù‚Ù„Ø¹Ø© ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ†) is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Cairo. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... The Holy Land or Palestine Showing not only the Old of Judea and Israel but also the 12 Tribes Distinctly, and Confirming Even the Diversity of the Locations of their Ancient Positions and Doing So as the Holy Scriptures Indicate, a geographic map from the studio of Tobiae Conradi Lotter... Damascus at sunset Damascus ( translit: Also commonly: Ø§Ù„Ø´Ø§Ù… ash-ShÄm) is the largest city of Syria and is also the capital. ... The Crusaders are also an Amiga demo scene music group. ... Damascus at sunset Damascus ( translit: Also commonly: Ø§Ù„Ø´Ø§Ù… ash-ShÄm) is the largest city of Syria and is also the capital. ... Artistic representation of Saladin (1137 - March 4, 1193), Kurdish: SelahedÃ®n AyÃ»bÃ®; ; Saladin or Salah el Din, (Arabic: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø§Ù„Ø£ÙŠÙˆØ¨ÙŠ, Kurdish: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ø§ÛŒÙˆØ¨ÛŒ) (c. ... Artistic representation of Saladin (1137 - March 4, 1193), Kurdish: SelahedÃ®n AyÃ»bÃ®; ; Saladin or Salah el Din, (Arabic: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø§Ù„Ø£ÙŠÙˆØ¨ÙŠ, Kurdish: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ø§ÛŒÙˆØ¨ÛŒ) (c. ...

Ruled by the Mamluk (1250 - 1517)

When Saladin established his rule over Cairo, his Seljuk army was mainly composed of slaves and former slaves who had climbed up the ranks. They were mostly Caucasians (i.e. from the Caucasus region) or Central Asians who were captured in military raids or, in most instances, kidnapped by slave merchants. The military power of the men slaves had been on the rise since the early Abbasid rule, but their political influence tremendously increased when Saladin rewarded them extravagantly for their loyalty. They were granted ranches and palaces, and some became governors. Women slaves usually became part of the Sultan or ruler's harem, and had even more influence over politics and internal palace matters. These slaves became known as the Mamluks (lit. Owned), and the term extended to include former slaves who were often freed to become aides and viziers. Shagaret Al-Dorr (Tree of Pearls) was the former slave and the wife of Al-Saleh, the last Ayyubid Sultan. When he died in 1249, and with no strong successor within the Ayyubid house, Shagaret Al-Dorr became monarch. The Mamluk lady would be the last woman to rule Egypt to this day. She ruled singlehandedly for 80 days, but was later pressured into marrying the Mamluk chief officer, Aybeck, in order to "keep things in perspective". She continued, however, to rule Egypt, and even had her husband assassinated when he wanted to marry another woman. Shortly after, she herself was killed by her fellow Mamluks who decided she had "gone too far". Artistic representation of Saladin (1137 - March 4, 1193), Kurdish: SelahedÃ®n AyÃ»bÃ®; ; Saladin or Salah el Din, (Arabic: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø§Ù„Ø£ÙŠÙˆØ¨ÙŠ, Kurdish: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ø§ÛŒÙˆØ¨ÛŒ) (c. ... Artistic representation of Saladin (1137 - March 4, 1193), Kurdish: SelahedÃ®n AyÃ»bÃ®; ; Saladin or Salah el Din, (Arabic: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø§Ù„Ø£ÙŠÙˆØ¨ÙŠ, Kurdish: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ø§ÛŒÙˆØ¨ÛŒ) (c. ... A Mamluk cavalryman, drawn in 1810 A mamluk (Arabic: Ù…Ù…Ù„ÙˆÙƒ (singular), Ù…Ù…Ø§Ù„ÙŠÙƒ (plural), owned; also transliterated mameluk, mameluke, or mamluke) was a slave soldier who converted to Islam and served the Muslim caliphs and the Ayyubid sultans during the Middle Ages. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata Cairo-Mosques. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cairo-Mosques. ... Sultan Hassan Mosque (left) along with the later El Rifai Mosque (right) and two smaller Ottoman mosques (foreground) - Cairo Egyptian 100 pound note The Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa (School) is considered stylistically the most compact and unified of all Cairo monuments. ... The Al-Rifai Mosque (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ø¬Ø¯ Ø§Ù„Ø±ÙØ§Ø¹Ù‰ ) (or Al-Rifai, al-Refai, al-refai); is located in Cairo, Egypt, in Midan al-Qala, adjacent to the Cairo Citadel. ...

Osmaniye's Age (Sultans and Mamluks) (1517 - 1798)

Under the rule of the Ottomans, the Mamluks did not cease to exercise their power. As the Ottoman empire expanded, the new world power adopted a government model that consisted of three authorities: local, military, and political. In Egypt, they realized that the power of the Mamluks was strong enough to subdue the local people, yet not too strong to revolt against the Sublime Porte, or the Ottoman Sultan. The Mamluks were, therefore, left in charge of local affairs. Feudal Lords or Mamluk Beys were appointed to each of Egypt's districts, and, in order to ensure no revolt attempt on the part of the Mamluks, the Ottomans stationed their own soldiers, the Janissaries and the Azabs, in Cairo. Both orders consisted of soldiers, much like the Mamluks, enslaved at a young age, raised as fighters, and appointed to high military, political, and civil posts. The Janissaries were among the most skillful of fighters. It was to them that Constantinople fell in 1453. Motto: Ø¯ÙˆÙ„Øª Ø§Ø¨Ø¯ Ù…Ø¯Øª Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital SÃ¶ÄŸÃ¼t (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans - 1281â€“1326 Osman I - 1918â€“1922 Mehmed VI... A Mamluk cavalryman, drawn in 1810 A mamluk (Arabic: Ù…Ù…Ù„ÙˆÙƒ (singular), Ù…Ù…Ø§Ù„ÙŠÙƒ (plural), owned; also transliterated mameluk, mameluke, or mamluke) was a slave soldier who converted to Islam and served the Muslim caliphs and the Ayyubid sultans during the Middle Ages. ... Synonym of the government of the Ottoman Empire often confusing the Sublime Porte and the High Porte. ... The Osmanli Dynasty, also the House of Osman, ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1281 to 1923, beginning with Osman I (not counting his father, Ertuğrul), though the dynasty was not proclaimed until 1383 when Murad I declared himself sultan. ... Azaps were irregular light infantry of the Ottoman Army. ... The Janissaries (or janizaries; in Turkish: Yeniçeri, meaning New Troops) comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultans household troops and bodyguard. ... Map of Constantinople. ...

However, the ultimate political power was, at least theoretically, in the hands of the main authority, the Pasha, a Turk governor usually educated in Istanbul. In several occasions, Pashas were overruled by powerful Mamluk Beys, who were subsequently subdued by the Ottoman troops, who received their orders from the Sultan, and so on. To the Sultans, what mattered most in the provinces was tax collection rather than political power. Meanwhile, little was being done to improve the social and economic status of Egypt or its capital city. Pasha (or pascha, bashaw; Turkish: paÅŸa; originally from Persian padshah or padeshah meaning king or from Turkish bash head, chief [1]) was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors and generals. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: KonstandinÃºpoli, historically known in English as Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and economic center. ...

French and British domination (1798 - 1952)

It was in the summer of 1798 that Napoleon's army landed in Alexandria and advanced to Cairo. Murad Bey and Ibrahim Bey, the Mamelouk rulers of Egypt, sent a messenger with a small tribute and asked the French general to leave the country. They had never heard of Napoleon before. The French captured Cairo with little resistance shortly after. Much is to be taken against the French during their three-year occupation, from their mistreatment of Egyptian citizens to their invasion of Al-Azhar mosque. However, one has to acknowledge that it was during their presence that Egypt came out of its long dark age. Champollion the father of Egyptology, deciphered the Ancient Egyptian writings on the famous Rosetta Stone. The French also established the "Institut d'Egypte", built schools and colleges, and wrote the Description de l'Egypte, the most comprehensive reference on the country's geography and culture. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 102 KB)Cairo - Kasr El Nil Bridge Source:[Webshots] This file has been listed on Wikipedia:Possibly unfree images, because it is currently only available to Wikipedia under a non-free license. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 102 KB)Cairo - Kasr El Nil Bridge Source:[Webshots] This file has been listed on Wikipedia:Possibly unfree images, because it is currently only available to Wikipedia under a non-free license. ... Khedive (from Persian for lord) was a title created in 1867 by the Ottoman Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz for the then-governor of Egypt, Ismail Pasha. ... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 673 KB)Inari Shrine symbol, Kasama File links The following pages link to this file: Inari (god) ... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 673 KB)Inari Shrine symbol, Kasama File links The following pages link to this file: Inari (god) ... Ã‰douard Louis Joseph Empain, Baron Empain (20 September 1852 - 22 July 1929) was a wealthy Belgian engineer, entrepreneur, financier and industrialist, as well as an amateur Egyptologist. ... IDescription de lÃ‰gypte (English: Description of Egypt) is the monumental French comprehensive scientific description of ancient and modern Egypt as well as its natural history. ...

Under Muhammad Ali's rule, Cairo prospered both economically and culturally. Not only was the infrastructure of the city rebuilt, but a new city center was also planned according to European standards. This new city center, today occupies the downtown Tahrir Square, Garden City, and Azbakeya. It was constructed over a swampy flood plain stretching between Ramses Square and the Nile by French city planners and engineers. A new mosque, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, was erected within the walls of Saladin's Citadel, and barrages were constructed along the Nile near the city. Cotton was introduced and soon became the country's main crop, thereby boosting the economy. During the six-year reign of Muhammad Ali's grandson, Abbas, the first railway line was constructed between Alexandria and Cairo, soon to be followed by a railroad network covering the Delta and Upper Egypt with Cairo at its center. Much of the hydraulic and transportation infrastructure built during that period is still operating to this day. Muhammad `AlÄ« Muhammad Ali Pasha (Arabic: Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø¹Ù„ÙŠ Ø¨Ø§Ø´Ø§) or Mehmet Ali PaÅŸa (KavalalÄ± Mehmet Ali PaÅŸa) in Turkish (c. ...

The Modern Metropolis (1952 - Today)

Cairo remained the central city of Egypt throughout the period of British rule and afterwards. The 20th century saw massive growth in the size of the city as peasants left the farmlands in pursuit of work in the factories and commerce of the metropolis. The city was especially burdened by refugees from the various wars with Israel: much of the population of the Sinai peninsula and the cities along the Suez Canal left for Cairo between 1967 and 1978. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x853, 455 KB) An evening view from the Tower of Cairo towards south, Cairo, Egypt. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x853, 455 KB) An evening view from the Tower of Cairo towards south, Cairo, Egypt. ... Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez (west), Gulf of Aqaba (east) from Space Shuttle STS-40 For other uses of the word Sinai, please see: Sinai (disambiguation). ...

Today, Cairo is Africa's most populous city and the Arab world's cultural centre. Since the 19th century Cairo has also become a center for tourism as people from around the world have come to see the monuments and artifacts of Ancient Egypt, especially the Pyramids. Laws against the export of these treasures has meant that the Egyptian Museum[2] in Cairo is the only place in the world that many items can be seen. Map of Arab League states in dark green with non-Arab areas in light green and Somalia and Djibouti in striped green due to their Arab League membership but non-Arab population. ... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ... A pyramid is any three-dimensional structure where the upper surfaces are triangular and converge on one point. ... Main entrance of the Egyptian Museum The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to the most extensive collection of pharaonic antiquities in the world. ...

Cairo has many malls and shopping centers; the most popular is Citystars [3], which is the second largest mall in the world and has an 18 screen cinema and theme park . Skyscrapers are now being built all over Cairo inculding Nile City Towers[4], The National Bank of Egypt Towers, The Fairmont Cairo[5] , New Cairo City Towers and The New Saudi Arabian Embassy Tower. City Stars is the latest commercial development in Egypt with an investment of more than 750 million dollars. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest skyscraper by roof height on high rise. ...

Cairo Geography

Cairo is located on the banks and islands of the Nile River in the north of Egypt, immediately south of the point where the river leaves its desert-bound valley and breaks into two branches into the low-lying Nile Delta region. NASA satellite photograph of the Nile Delta (shown in false colour) The Nile Delta (Arabic:Ø¯Ù„ØªØ§ Ø§Ù„Ù†ÙŠÙ„) is the delta formed in Northern Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. ...

The oldest part of the city is somewhat east of the river. There, the city gradually spreads west, engulfing the agricultural lands next to the Nile. These western areas, built on the model of Paris by Ismail the Magnificent in the mid-19th century, are marked by wide boulevards, public gardens, and open spaces. The older eastern section of the city is very different: having grown up haphazardly over the centuries it is filled with small lanes and crowded tenements. While western Cairo is dominated by the government buildings and modern architecture, the eastern half is filled with hundreds of ancient mosques that act as landmarks. The Nile (Arabic: â€Ž, translit: , Ancient Egyptian iteru) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest riverâ€”though not the most voluminousâ€”on Earth. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France RÃ©gion ÃŽle-de-France DÃ©partement Paris (75) Subdivisions 20 arrondissements Mayor Bertrand DelanoÃ« (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land... Ismail Pasha Ismail Pasha, known as Ismail the Magnificent (December 31, 1830â€“March 2, 1895) (Arabic: Ø¥Ø³Ù…Ø§Ø¹ÙŠÙ„ Ø¨Ø§Ø´Ø§), was khedive of Egypt from 1863 until he was removed at the behest of the British in 1879. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ...

Extensive water systems have also allowed the city to expand east into the desert. Bridges link the Nile islands of Gezira and Roda, where many government buildings are located and government officials live. Bridges also cross the Nile attaching the city to the suburbs of Giza and Imbabah (part of the Cairo conurbation). Giza, or Gizah (Arabic, Ø§Ù„Ø¬ÙŠØ²Ø©, transliterated al-Ç§Ä«zah; pronounced in the Cairene dialect of Egyptian Arabic eg-GÄ«za; also sometimes rendered in English as Gizeh, Ghizeh, or Geezeh) is a town in Egypt on the west bank of the Nile river, some 20 km southwest of central Cairo and now... Imbaba is a city in northern Egypt, it is the part of Cairo conurbation. ...

West of Giza, in the desert, is part of the ancient necropolis of Memphis on the Giza plateau, with its three large pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza Approximately 11 miles (18 km) to the south of modern Cairo is the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis and adjoining necropolis of Saqqara. These cities were Cairo's ancient predecessors, when Cairo was still in this approximate geographical location. View of the Etruscan necropolis of Banditaccia, in Cerveteri, Italy. ... A pyramid is any three-dimensional structure where the upper surfaces are triangular and converge on one point. ... Great Pyramid of Giza from a 19th century stereopticon card photo. ... Memphis, coordiates , , was the ancient capital of the first nome of Lower Egypt, and of the Old Kingdom of Egypt from its foundation until around 1300 BC. Its Ancient Egyptian name was Ineb Hedj (The White Walls). The name Memphis is the Greek deformation of the Egyptian name of Pepi... Saqqara (Arabic: Ø³Ù‚Ø§Ø±Ø©) is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid. ...

Cairo Infrastructure

Health

Cairo, as well as neighbouring Giza, have been established as Egypt's main centre for medical treatment, as well as a major Health Centre in the Middle East. Some of Cairo's most famous hospitals are Al-Salam International Hospital, Ain-Shams University Hospital, as well as Qasr El Ainy General Hospital. Giza, or Gizah (Arabic, Ø§Ù„Ø¬ÙŠØ²Ø©, transliterated al-Ç§Ä«zah; pronounced in the Cairene dialect of Egyptian Arabic eg-GÄ«za; also sometimes rendered in English as Gizeh, Ghizeh, or Geezeh) is a town in Egypt on the west bank of the Nile river, some 20 km southwest of central Cairo and now... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

See List of hospitals in Egypt. This is a list of hospitals in Egypt: // Alexandria Psychiatric centre Agooza Ain Shams Specialized Hospital Al Salam Al Salam International Amoun Hospital Anglo-American Arab Contractors Medical Center Asyout University Hospital Badran Cairo Institute of Radiology Cairo Kindey Center Cairo Medical Center Cleopatra Coptic Dar Al Fouad Hospital Dar...

Education

Cairo has long been the hub of education and educational services not only for Egypt but also for the whole world. Today, Cairo is the center for the government offices governing the Egyptian educational system, has the largest number of educational schools, and higher learning institutes among other cities and governorates of Egypt. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1022x745, 114 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1022x745, 114 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... [[Image:University_Of_Cairo. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The Egyptian educational system is highly centralized, and is divided into three stages: * Basic Education - (Arabic:Marhalet Al-Taaleem Al-Asassi) * Primary Stage * Preparatory Stage * Secondary Education (Arabic:Marhalet ElTaaleem Al-Thanawi) * Post-Secondary education Since the extension of the free compulsory education law in 1981 to include the preparatory... Universities in Egypt are generally either state-funded or privately funded. ...

Universities in Cairo: The British International School in Cairo (BISC) is a private British school in Egypt. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Choueifat Abu Dhabi Logo The International School of Choueifat is a collection of international schools run by the SABIS school system in various countries of the Middle East. ...

[[Image:University_Of_Cairo. ... Ain Shams University (Arabic: Ø¬Ø§Ù…Ø¹Ø© Ø¹ÙŠÙ† Ø´Ù…Ø³) is a renowned institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. ... Helwan University (established in July 26, 1975) is a public university based in Helwan suburb, Cairo, Egypt. ... Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo Egypt Al-Azhar University (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø£Ø²Ù‡Ø± Ø§Ù„Ø´Ø±ÙŠÙ; al-Azhar al-Shareef, the Noble Azhar), is a premier Egyptian institution of higher learning, world-renowned for its position as a center of Islamic scholarship and education. ... Nile University (NU) is a not-for-profit university established in Egypt in July 2006. ... The American University in Cairo (AUC) (Arabic:Ø§Ù„Ø¬Ø§Ù…Ø¹Ø© Ø§Ù„Ø£Ù…Ø±ÙŠÙƒÙŠØ© Ø¨Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø§Ù‡Ø±Ø©)in Cairo, Egypt, was founded in 1919 by American Methodist Episcopal Missionaries, but quickly moved away from missionary endeavors in favor of being a more secular educational non-profit institution, making it the second oldest secular university in Egypt after Cairo University. ... Since 1998, an important ambition set by the British and the Egyptian Governments was the formation of a British University in Egypt. ... The German University in Cairo is the first German university in Egypt and the Middle East. ... Campus The Arab Academy for Science & Technology and Maritime Transport is a maritime academy that has its main campus located in Alexandria, Egypt. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ...

Transport

Main Article: Transportation in Cairo Download high resolution version (700x800, 17 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (700x800, 17 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Transportation in Cairo comprises of an extensive road network, rail system, subway system and maritime services for the more than 15. ...

Transportation in Cairo comprises of an extensive road network, rail system, subway system and maritime services for the more than 15.2 million inhabitants of the city. Cairo is the hub of almost the entire Egyptian Transportation network.

The subway system, called 'The Metro' locally, is a fast and efficient way of getting around Cairo. It can get very crowded during rush hour. There is also usually a carriage at the front of the train that is reserved for women only.

An extensive road network connects Cairo with other Egyptian cities and villages. There is a new Ring Road that surrounds the outskirts of the city, with exits that reach to almost every Cairo district. There are flyovers, and bridges such as the Sixth of October bridge that allows straight, fast and efficient means of transportation from one side of the city to the other. Cairo traffic is known to be overwhelming and overcrowded.

Cairo International Airport (IATA: CAI, ICAO: HECA) (Arabic: Ù…Ø·Ø§Ø± Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø§Ù‡Ø±Ø© Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙˆÙ„ÙŠ) is the major civilian airport in Cairo, Egypt. ... A station in Cairo named after Ramses. ... Map of the Cairo Metro The Cairo Metro in Egypt is Africas only full-fledged metro system. ... Transportation in Cairo comprises of an extensive road network, rail system, subway system and maritime services for the more than 15. ... The letters CTA may refer to the Chicago Transit Authority or the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland. ...

Sports

Soccer is the most popular sport in Egypt , and Cairo has a number of sporting teams that compete in national and regional leagues. The best known teams are Al Zamalek and Al Ahly, whose annual football Egyptian Local Football Derby is perhaps the most watched sports event in Egypt as well as the Africa and Arab World. Both teams are known as the giants of Egyptian football, and are the first and the second champions in the African continent and the Arab World. Both teams play their home games at Cairo International Stadium or Naser Stadium , which is Cairo's, Egypt's, Africa's and Middle East's largest stadium and one of the largest in the World. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 324 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 324 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... The Cairo International Stadium after renovations Cairo International Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Cairo, Egypt with a capacity of 74,100. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Al-Ahly (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø£Ù‡Ù„ÙŠ) is an Egyptian football club founded and headed by the English gentleman Mitchel Ince in April, 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. ... The Cairo International Stadium after renovations Cairo International Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Cairo, Egypt with a capacity of 74,100. ...

The Cairo International Stadium was built in 1960 and its multipurpose sports complex that houses the main Soccer stadium, an indoor stadium, several satellite fields that held several regional, continental and global games, including the African Games, U17 Football World Championship and was one of the stadiums scheduled that hosted the 2006 African Nations Cup which was played on January, 2006, which Egypt won its title for the record number of five times in African Continental Competition's history. The Cairo International Stadium after renovations Cairo International Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Cairo, Egypt with a capacity of 74,100. ... The 2006 African Nations Cup is the 25th edition of the African Nations Cup, the soccer championship of Africa (CAF). ...

Cairo failed at the applicant stage when bidding for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, which will be hosted in Beijing China. However, Cairo will host the Pan-Arab Games in 2007.

There are several other sports teams in the city that participate in several sports including Al Gezeera Sporting Club, Al Shams Club, Shooting club, Heliopolis Club and several smaller clubs, but the biggest clubs in Egypt (not in area but in sports) are Al Ahly & Al Zamalek. They have the two biggest football teams in Egypt. Al-Ahly (Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø£Ù‡Ù„ÙŠ) is an Egyptian football club founded and headed by the English gentleman Mitchel Ince in April, 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Most of the sports federations of the country are also located in the city suburbs, including the Egyptian Football Association. The headquarters of the Confederation of African Football(CAF) was previously located in Cairo, before relocating to its new headquarters in 6th October City near Cairo. The Egyptian Football Association is the governing body of football (soccer) in Egypt. ... CAF Logo The 53 member Confederation of African Football (CAF; French: ConfÃ©dÃ©ration Africaine de Football) represents international football in Africa, and organises the African Cup of Nations as well as the African Champions League. ... 6th October City is a municipality in Egypt in Al Jizah Governorate, some 20 kms southwest of dountown Cairo. ...

Culture

Over the ages, and as far back as seven thousand years, Egypt stood the land where civilizations have always met. The Pharaohs together with the Greeks and the Romans have left their imprints here. Muslims from the Arab Peninsula, led by Amr ibn al-A'as, introduced Islam into Egypt. Khedive Mohammad Ali, with his Albanian family roots, put Egypt on the road to modernity. If anything, the cultural mix in this country is natural, given its heritage. Egypt can be likened to an open museum with monuments of the different historical periods on display everywhere. With the genius of place and time, and Cairo was and still the Arab world’s cultural beacon. For other uses, see Civilization (disambiguation). ... Pharaoh is a title used to refer to any ruler, usually male, of the Egyptian kingdom in the pre-Christian, pre-Islamic period. ... Look up Roman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Ë¤Amr ibn al-Ë¤Ä€s (Arabic: Ø¹Ù…Ø±Ùˆ Ø¨Ù† Ø§Ù„Ø¹Ø§Øµ) (born c. ... Khedive (from Persian for lord) was a title created in 1867 by the Ottoman Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz for the then-governor of Egypt, Ismail Pasha. ... Map of Arab League states in dark green with non-Arab areas in light green and Somalia and Djibouti in striped green due to their Arab League membership but non-Arab population. ...

Main Article: Cairo Opera House The National Cultural Center The Cairo Opera House, part of Cairos National Cultural Center, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. ...

President Mubarak inaugurated the new Cairo Opera House of the Egyptian National Cultural Center on October 10th 1988, seventeen years after the Royal Opera House had been destroyed by fire. The National Cultural Center was built with the help of JICA, the Japan International Co-operation Agency and stands as a prominent feature for the Japanese-Egyptian co-operation and the deep-rooted friendship between these two nations. Image File history File links Cairo_Opera_House_ByDay. ... Image File history File links Cairo_Opera_House_ByDay. ... The National Cultural Center The Cairo Opera House, part of Cairos National Cultural Center, is the main performing arts venue in the Egyptian capital. ...

In intensive meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Culture in Cairo and JICA a design was worked out that would harmonise with the surrounding buildings and bring to mind traditional Islamic architecture. In March 1985, President Mubarak laid the first corner stone of the project after a year and a half had been spent on careful planning and designing of the building. Almost three years later, and thanks to the tremendous efforts and craftsmanship of architects, engineers and workmen this prominent and unique cultural center was completed. In October 1988, President Mubarak and His Highness Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, the younger brother of the Japanese Emperor, inaugurated the National Cultural Center “Cairo Opera House” in a remarkable ceremony. It was the first time for the Japanese to stage a Kabuki show, a traditional popular drama with singing and dancing in Africa or the Arab World.

Thus, the joint efforts of Japanese and Egyptians has given rise to a unique landmark which celebrates the rich and diverse cultural life not only of Egypt but of neighbouring nations in Africa and the Middle East as well.

Egypt is proud to be the only state in the region which built two opera houses within a bit more than a century.

Main Article: Khedivial Opera House The Khedivial Opera House or Royal Opera House was the original opera house in Cairo, Egypt. ...

The Khedivial Opera House or Royal Opera House was the original opera house in Cairo, Egypt. It was dedicated on November 1, 1869 and burned down on October 28, 1971.

The opera house was built on the orders of the Khedive Ismail to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal. The architects Afoskoni and Rossi designed the building. It seated approximately 850 people and was made mostly of wood. It was located between the districts of Asbakia and Ismailyya in Egypt's capital city.

Verdi's opera Rigoletto was chosen as the first opera to be performed at the opera house on November 1, 1869. But already Ismail was planning a far grander exhibition for his new theatre. After months of delay due to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, Verdi's new opera, Aida, received its world premiere at the Khedivial Opera House on December 24, 1871.

In the early morning hours of October 28, 1971, the opera house burned to the ground. The all-wooden building was quickly consumed, and only two statues made by Mohammed Hassan survived.

After the original opera house was destroyed, Cairo was without an opera house for nearly two decades until the opening of the new Cairo Opera House in 1988

Egypt 's love of the arts in general can be traced back to the rich heritage bequeathed by the Pharaohs. In modern times, Egypt has enjoyed a strong cinematic tradition since the art of filmmaking was first developed, early in the 20th century. A natural progression from the active theatre scene of the time, cinema rapidly evolved into a vast motion picture industry. This together with the much older music tradition, raised Egypt to become the cultural capital of the Arab world.

For more than 500 years of recorded history, Egypt has fascinated the West and inspired its creative talents from play writer William Shakespeare, poet and dramatist John Dryden, and novelist and poet Laurence Durrell to film producer Cecil B. de Mille. Since the silent movies Hollywood has been capitalising on the box-office returns that come from combining Egyptian stories with visual effects.

Egypt has also been a fount of Arabic literature producing some of the 20th century's greatest Arab writers such as Taha Hussein and Tawfiq Al-Hakim to Nobel Laureate, novelist Naguib Mahfouz. Each of them has written for the cinema.

With these credentials, it was clear that Cairo should aim to hold an international film festival.

This dream came true on Monday August 16th 1976, when the first Cairo International Film Festival was launched by the Egyptian Association of Film Writers and Critics, headed by Kamal El-Mallakh. The Association ran the festival for seven years until 1983.

This achievement lead to the President of the Festival again contacting the FIAPF with the request that a competition should be included at the 1991 Festival. The request was granted.

In 1998, the Festival took place under the presidency of one of Egypt's leading actors, Hussein Fahmi, who was appointed by the Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, after the death of Saad El-Din Wahba.

Four years later, the journalist and writer Cherif El-Shoubashy became president.

For 29 years, the home of the Pyramids and Nile has hosted international superstars like Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman, Bud Spencer, Gina Lollobrigida, Ornella Mutti, Sophia Loren, Claudia Cardinale, Victoria Abril, Elizabeth Taylor, Shashi Kapoor, Alain Delon, Greta Scacchi, Catherine Deneuve, Peter O'toole, Christopher Lee, Irene Pappas, Marcello Mastroianni and Omar Sharif, as well as great directors like Robert Wise, Elia Kazan, Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Stone, Roland Joffe, Carlos Saura, Ismail Merchant and Michel Angelo Antonioni, in an annual celebration and examination of the state of cinema in the world today.

Main Article: Cairo Geniza The Cairo Geniza is an accumulation of Jewish manuscripts written from about 870 to as late as 1880 CE, that were found in the geniza of the synagogue of Fustat (Old Cairo), Egypt (built 882), the Busatin cemetery east of Old Cairo, and a number of old documents that were...

The Cairo Geniza is an accumulation of almost 200,000 Jewish manuscripts that were found in the genizah of the Ben Ezra synagogue (built 882) of Fostat, Egypt (now Old Cairo), the Basatin cemetery east of Old Cairo, and a number of old documents that were bought in Cairo in the later 19th century. These documents were written from about 870 to as late as 1880 CE and have now been archived in various American and European libraries. The Taylor-Schechter collection in the University of Cambridge runs to 140,000 manuscripts; there are a further 40,000 manuscripts at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Main Article: The Wagh El-Birket The Wagh el Birket (The Berka) was, into the first half of the 20th century, the entertainment district (or red-light district) of Cairo, Egypt. ...

The Wagh El-Birket ("The Berka") was, into the first half of the 20th century, the entertainment district (or red-light district) of Cairo, Egypt. It features prominently in several novels by Naguib Mahfouz, particularly his Cairo Trilogy.

Later, during the Second World War, the British military set up brothels run by the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Main Article: Al-Azhar Park Al-Azhar Park is a major park in Cairos Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood in Egypt. ...

Innaugurated in May 2005, Al-Azhar Park is located adjactent to Cairo's Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood. The Park was created by the Historic Cities Support Programme (HCSP) of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an entity of the Aga Khan Development Network, and was a gift to Cairo from His Highness the Aga Khan. It is interesting to note that the city of Cairo was founded in the year 969 by the Fatimid Imam-Caliphs who were ancestors of the Aga Khan.^[1] Look up May in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Al-Azhar Park is a major park in Cairos Darb al-Ahmar neighborhood in Egypt. ... // The Historic Cities Support Programme (HCSP) of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) promotes the conservation and re-use of buildings and public spaces in historic cities of the Muslim World. ... The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), focuses on the physical, social, cultural and economic revitalisation of communities in the Muslim world. ... Founded and guided by Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building and the promotion of economic development. ... The Aga Khan receives the Order of Canada from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in a ceremony performed at Rideau Hall in 2005. ... Events December 11 - John I becomes Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. ... The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-FÄtimiyyÅ«n (Arabic Ø§Ù„ÙØ§Ø·Ù…ÙŠÙˆÙ†) is the Shia dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Egypt, and the Levant from 5 January 910 to 1171. ...

During the development of the park, a part of the 12th century Ayyubid wall was discovered and subsequently restored. The wall had originally been built by Salah al-Din al-Ayubbi as a defense against the crusaders. The discovery prompted additional research into the nearby historic neighborhood of Darb al-Ahmar, and eventually led to a major project encompassing the restoration of several mosques, palaces and historic houses. The HCSP also established social and economic programs to provide a wide range of assistance for local residents.^[2] The Ayyubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Egypt, Iraq in the 12th and 13th centuries. ... Artistic representation of Saladin (1137 - March 4, 1193), Kurdish: SelahedÃ®n AyÃ»bÃ®; ; Saladin or Salah el Din, (Arabic: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø§Ù„Ø£ÙŠÙˆØ¨ÙŠ, Kurdish: ØµÙ„Ø§Ø Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ø§ÛŒÙˆØ¨ÛŒ) (c. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ...

Main Article: Cairo Trilogy The Cairo Trilogy is a trilogy of novels set in Cairo, Egypt. ...

The Cairo Trilogy is a trilogy of novels set in Cairo, Egypt. It was written by Egyptian novelist and Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz.

Palace Walk (original Arabic title: Bayn al-Qasrayn, 1956) Palace of Desire (Qasr al-Chawq, 1957) Sugar Street (Al-Sukkariyya, 1957) The books' titles are taken from actual streets in Cairo, the city of Mahfouz's childhood and youth.

The trilogy follows the life of the Cairene patriarch al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad and his family across three generations, from World War I to the overthrow of King Farouk in 1952.

Media

Main Article: Egyptian Media Production City The 6th of October city-based Media Production city ( MPC) is the biggest ever built information and media complex, which, together with the Egyptian media satellites Nilesat 101, Nilesat 102, will allow Egypt to step into the new world of the 21st century. ...

The 6th of October city-based Media Production city ( MPC) is the biggest ever built information and media complex, which, together with the Egyptian media satellites "Nilesat 101", "Nilesat 102", will allow Egypt to step into the new world of the 21st century. Thereby, Cairo will be well-qualified and well-equipped to maintain its pioneering role in the field of satellite television and to provide television and film production facilities that can support the information breakthrough. Cairo is the Middle East's media production powerhouse. With its huge new 3.5 million square meter Media Production City

Economy

Like any great city, wrote anthropologist Janet Abu-Lughod, Cairo is "a mosaic of subcities," each the product of a different social order, a different technological era and a different economy. Cairo is thus much more than a "new city" added to an "old city."

"No other Arab city is so alive," says a local expert who has studied Cairo's varying neighborhoods. A Cairo-based US advisor to the Government of Egypt observes that international news from Cairo frequently fails to communicate the "tremendous vibrancy here."

In 1974 the late President Anwar Sadat's infitah, or "open door" policy, allowed foreign investment in Egypt largely banned since the country's 1952 socialist revolution and ushered in what city planner al-Sadek calls "a new philosophical era." It was a turning point. The boom was on. Over the next 20 years, more than seven million people poured into Cairo. They filled the Nile valley to overflowing and spilled out into the desert, settling in a few years more than twice as much land as Cairo had covered in all its thousand previous years of history.

Now, in the Middle East, Istanbul and Tehran are each only half of Cairo's size. If Cairo were sovereign, it would be the fifth-largest Arab country. Even some Cairo neighborhoods have nation-sized populations: Shubra, north of the city center, houses three million people, comparable to the population of Lebanon.

Cairo is also in every respect the center of Egypt, as it has been almost since its founding in 969. One quarter of all Egyptians live there. The majority of the nation's commerce is generated there, or passes through the city. The great majority of publishing houses and media outlets and nearly all film studios are there, as are half of the nation's hospital beds and universities. The population density of Cairo is exceeded only by the cities of India. And just how new is Cairo? Look out of a window: stone-crafted minarets still grace the sky here and there but one building in five is less than 15 years old. And now, fewer than one in eight Cairenes goes to sleep each night in the historic quarters that knew the ways of the city's Fatimid founders.

This astonishing growth until recently surged well ahead of city services. Homes, roads, electricity, telephone and sewer services were all suddenly in short supply. Analysts trying to grasp the magnitude of the change coined terms like "hyper-urbanization." On the ground planners struggled. Only bits of the Cairo Master Plan of 1970 and the Greater Cairo Master Scheme of 1982 were ever implemented.

Tourism

Main Article: The Egyptian Museum Main entrance of the Egyptian Museum The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. ...

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities in the world. It has 136,000 items on display, with many more hundreds of thousands in its basement storerooms. Download high resolution version (480x640, 72 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 72 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ...

The museum is an outgrowth of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, established by the Egyptian government in 1835, in an attempt to limit the looting of antiquities from sites, and protect artifacts. Its Boulaq museum opened in 1858 with a collection assembled by Auguste Mariette, the French archaeologist retained by Isma'il Pasha. After residing in an annex of the palace of Isma'il Pasha in Giza from 1880, the museum moved to its present location, a neoclassical structure on Tahrir Square in Cairo's city centre, in 1900 under Gaston Maspero. The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ... The Supreme Council of Antiquities (commonly abbreviated SCA) is part of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and is responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Illicit antiquities are artefacts of archaeological interest, found in illegal or unregulated excavations, and traded covertly. ... 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A statue of Auguste Mariette in his home city of Boulogne-sur-Mer. ... redirect Ismail Pasha ... Ismail Pasha Ismail Pasha, known as Ismail the Magnificent (December 31, 1830â€“March 2, 1895) (Arabic: Ø¥Ø³Ù…Ø§Ø¹ÙŠÙ„ Ø¨Ø§Ø´Ø§), was khedive of Egypt from 1863 until he was removed at the behest of the British in 1879. ... Giza, or Gizah (Arabic, Ø§Ù„Ø¬ÙŠØ²Ø©, transliterated al-Ç§Ä«zah; pronounced in the Cairene dialect of Egyptian Arabic eg-GÄ«za; also sometimes rendered in English as Gizeh, Ghizeh, or Geezeh) is a town in Egypt on the west bank of the Nile river, some 20 km southwest of central Cairo and now... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... Gaston Camille Charles Maspero (June 23, 1846 - June 30, 1916), French Egyptologist, was born in Paris, his parents being of Lombard origin. ...

The highlight of the collection is often considered to be the tomb artifacts of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose almost intact tomb Howard Carter found in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. Nebkheperure Lord of the forms of Re Nomen Tutankhaten Living Image of the Aten Tutankhamun Hekaiunushema Living Image of Amun, ruler of Upper Heliopolis Horus name Kanakht Tutmesut The strong bull, pleasing of birth Nebty name Neferhepusegerehtawy One of perfect laws, who pacifies the two lands[1] Wer-Ah-Amun... Howard Carter (May 9, 1874 â€“ March 2, 1939) was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist. ... View over the East Valley The Valley of the Kings, or Wadi el-Muluk (ÙˆØ§Ø¯ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ù…Ù„ÙˆÙƒ) in Arabic, is a valley in Egypt where tombs were built for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom, the Eighteenth through Twentieth Dynasties of Ancient Egypt. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

The museum's Royal Mummy Room, containing 27 royal mummies from pharaonic times, was closed down on the orders of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. It was reopened, with a slightly curtailed display of New Kingdom kings and queens, in 1985. Mummified cat from Ancient Egypt. ... Muhammad Anwar Al-Sadat (Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø£Ù†ÙˆØ±Ø§Ù„Ø³Ø§Ø¯Ø§Øª in Arabic) (December 25, 1918 â€“ October 6, 1981) was an Egyptian politician and served as the third President of Egypt from September 28, 1970 until his assassination on October 6, 1981. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Kingdom is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BCE and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities is, without doubt, that of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It is a place of true discovery and, even after many visits,

To be sure, the museum can be daunting in the sheer numbers of its antiquities on show, but there is an order within its layout and it is a dream come true for anyone wanting to study Egyptian antiquities.

Khan el-Khalili is for many the most entertaining part of Cairo. It is an ancient shopping area, nothing less, but some of the shops have also their own little factories or workshops. The suq (which is the Arabic name for bazar, or market) dates back to 1382, when Emir Djaharks el-Khalili built a big caravanserai (or khan) right here. A caravanseri was a sort of hotel for traders, and usually the focal point for economic activity for any surrounding area. This caravanserai is still there, you just ask for the narrow street of Sikka Khan el-Khalili and Badestan. As for the suq, you can easily grasp most of its charm and possibilities by wandering about. You do not need a guide, not even a guide book. Should you get lost, just keep going in one direction, and you will quickly come out of the maze, and close to a taxi. Khan el-Khalili is for many the most entertaining part of Cairo. ...

Shopping is almost compulsory in Khan el-Khalili. Since the decline in Western tourism to Egypt in recent years, prices in Khan el-Khalili has dropped, but the intensity of the shop keepers has increased. The golden rule is, check the range of goods and prices in several shops before you buy, keep your head calm and stay friendly. And remember: you should never feel that you insult or disappoint a seller by not buying. After all, it is your money.

The Cairo Tower is free-standing concrete TV tower in Cairo, Egypt. It stands in Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the River Nile, in the city centre. At 187 metres, it is 43 metres higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands some 15 km to the southwest. Cairo Tower The Cairo Tower (Arabic: Ø¨Ø±Ø¬ Ø§Ù„Ù…ØµØ±) is free-standing concrete TV tower in Cairo, Egypt. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (853x1280, 495 KB) The Tower of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (853x1280, 495 KB) The Tower of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. ... Cairo Tower The Cairo Tower (Arabic: Ø¨Ø±Ø¬ Ø§Ù„Ù…ØµØ±) is free-standing concrete TV tower in Cairo, Egypt. ...

The Cairo Tower was built from 1956 to 1961. Its partially open lattice-work design is intended to evoke a lotus plant. The tower is crowned by an observation deck and a revolving restaurant.

One of the best views is from the Cairo Tower, located on Zamalek Island just north of the Museum of Modern Art (which is also very much worth a visit), which provides a panoramic vision of Cairo.

It ranks only fourth among the worlds highest towers. It is made of granite, the same material often used by the ancient Egyptians, and is about 45 meters taller than the Great Pyramid at Giza.

From its appearance, the military and police museums seem uninteresting for the majority of travellers who couldn't care less about this or that weapon. But the exhibits go far beyond a zealous lining up of guns and canons. In the Police National Museum you can get a chilling look into the most famous assassinations and murders of Egypt's history — save the murder of President Sadat in 1981. Ever heard of the female serial killers Rayya and Sakina, who murdered almost 30 young girls to get their jewellery in the early 20th century? In the room of forgery and counterfeiting you can see the death mask of an infamous Egyptian murderer.

There is less of general interest in Military Museum, but the outdoor parade of Soviet- and US-made rockets and tanks from the Arab-Israeli Wars will fascinate most. Most of us rarely get to see such items up close.

There are 3 more museums, mainly for people with special interests. The Seized Museum includes items taken from smugglers before leaving Egypt.

Cairo Problems

Pollution

Cairo is a rapidly expanding city which has lead to many environmental problems. The air pollution in Cairo is a matter of serious concern. The air quality in downtown Cairo is more than 10 to 100 folds of acceptable world standards. Air quality in Cairo has been reaching dangerous levels of lead, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and suspended particulate matter concentrations due to decades of unregulated car emissions, urban industrial operations, and chaff and trash burning.There are over 2,000,000 cars on the streets of Cairo, 60% of which are over 10 years old, and therefore lack modern emission cutting features like catalytic converters. Cairo has a very poor dispersion factor because of lack of rain and its layout of tall buildings and narrow streets, which create a bowl effect. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Cairo also has many unregistered lead and copper smelters which heavily pollute the city. The results of this has been a permanent haze over the city with particulate matter in the air reaching over three times normal levels. It is estimated that 10,000 to 25,000 people a year in Cairo die due to air pollution-related diseases. It is also estimated that the high lead content of the air can reduce a child's IQ on average by 4 points. In 1995, the first environmental acts were introduced and the situation has seen some improvement with 36 air monitoring stations and emissions tests on cars. 20,000 buses have also been commissioned to the city to improve congestion levels, which are very high.

The city also suffers from a level of land pollution. Cairo produces 10,000 tonnes of rubbish each day, 4,000 tonnes of which is not collected or managed. This once again is a huge health hazard and the Egyptian Government is looking for ways to combat this. The Cairo Cleaning and Beautification Agency was founded to collect and recycle the rubbish; however, they also work with the Zabbaleen, a Christian community that has been collecting and recycling Cairo's rubbish since the turn of the 20th century [6]. Both are working together to pick up as much rubbish as possible within the city limits, though it remains a pressing problem. The Zabbaleen are an informal system of waste collectors and recyclers in the city of Cairo. ...

The city also suffers from water pollution as the sewer system tends to fail and overflow. On occasion, sewage has escaped onto streets creating a health hazard. This problem is hoped to be solved by a new sewer system funded by the European Union, which could cope with the demand of the city. The dangerously high levels of mercury in the city's water system has global health officials concerned over related health risks.

Housing

Cairo is facing a housing problem. The lack of satisfactory and affordable housing for the rapidly growing population has forced many poor Egyptians to make cemeteries in the city of the Dead as their permanent homes. Among these cemeteries live a community of Egypt’s urban poor, forming an illegal but tolerated, separate society. More than five million Egyptians live in these cemeteries, and have formed their own enterprises. The population of the City of the Dead is growing rapidly because of rural migration and it’s complicated housing crisis is getting worse.

References

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Miscellaneous

Town Twinning (Sister Cities)

Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Stuttgart [], located in southern Germany, is the capital of the state of Baden-WÃ¼rttemberg with a population of approximately 590,000 (as of September 2005) in the city and around 3 million in the metropolitan area. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: KonstandinÃºpoli, historically known in English as Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and economic center. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sudan. ... Map of Sudan with Khartoum Khartoum ( Ø§Ù„Ø®Ø±Ø·ÙˆÙ… al-á¸ªará¹Å«m Elephant Trunk) is the capital of Sudan and of Khartoum State. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Nickname: Big Apple, City that never Sleeps, Gotham Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Manhattan Queens Brooklyn Staten Island Settled 1613 Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area - City 1,214. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Pakistan_(bordered). ... Introduction Rahim Yar Khan district is located in Punjab. ...

Famous Cairenes

Abu Said al-Afif was a renowned Samaritan physician in fifteenth century Cairo. ... Boutros Boutros-Ghali CC (Arabic: Ø¨Ø·Ø±Ø³ Ø¨Ø·Ø±Ø³ ØºØ§Ù„ÙŠ) (born 14 November 1922) is an Egyptian diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996. ... Kofi Annan, current Secretary-General of the United Nations The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. ... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... Mohamed ElBaradei Mohamed ElBaradei (Arabic: Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø§Ù„Ø¨Ø±Ø§Ø¯Ø¹ÙŠ) (born June 17, 1942, Egypt) is the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an inter-governmental organization under the auspices of the United Nations. ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... Lester B. Pearson after accepting the Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is the name of one of five Nobel Prizes bequested by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. ... Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid Mido (Arabic: Ø£ØÙ…Ø¯ ØØ³Ø§Ù… Ù…ÙŠØ¯Ùˆ) (born February 23, 1983 in Cairo), is an Egyptian footballer who is a striker and currently with English side Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Mido is well known for his volatile temperament, strength in the air as well as his footballing prowess and goalscoring abilities. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz Naguib Mahfouz (Arabic: â€Ž, ) (December 11, 1911 â€“ August 30, 2006) was an Egyptian novelist who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. ... A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... Nobel Prize in Literature medal. ... Omar Sharif (Arabic: Ø¹Ù…Ø± Ø§Ù„Ø´Ø±ÙŠÙ; April 10, 1932), also known as Omar al-Sharif or Omar Ash-Sharif, is an Egyptian-born actor (of Lebanese and Syrian origin) who has starred in many Hollywood films. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ...

Lists

The current capital of Egypt is Cairo. ... This is a list of national capitals of the world in alphabetical order. ... This is a list of national capitals in the world in alphabetical order by country: In case that the capital is not the largest city, the third column gives the cities that are larger. ... Throughout the world there are many cities that were once national capitals but no longer have that status because the country ceased to exist, the capital was moved, or the capital city was renamed. ... Countries whose capital is not their largest city This is an incomplete list of countries whose capital is not their largest city. ... This page lists the 101 largest metropolitan areas of the world by population. ... This page lists the 100 largest metropolitan areas of the world, ranked by population. ...

Contents

History of Cairo

Era of the Pharaohs (BC 3500 - BC 30)

The Romans (BC 30 - AD 641)

The Islamic Conquest (641 - 969)

The Triumphant City (969 - 1168)

The Age of Saladin and the Crusades (1168 - 1250)

Ruled by the Mamluk (1250 - 1517)

Osmaniye's Age (Sultans and Mamluks) (1517 - 1798)

French and British domination (1798 - 1952)

The Modern Metropolis (1952 - Today)

Cairo Geography

Cairo Infrastructure

Health

Education

Transport

Sports

Culture

Media

Economy

Tourism

Cairo Problems

Pollution

Housing

References

Miscellaneous

Town Twinning (Sister Cities)

Famous Cairenes

Lists

See also

External links

Further reading

Tables

Contents

History of Cairo GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Era of the Pharaohs (BC 3500 - BC 30)

The Romans (BC 30 - AD 641)

The Islamic Conquest (641 - 969)

The Triumphant City (969 - 1168)

The Age of Saladin and the Crusades (1168 - 1250)

Ruled by the Mamluk (1250 - 1517)

Osmaniye's Age (Sultans and Mamluks) (1517 - 1798)

French and British domination (1798 - 1952)

The Modern Metropolis (1952 - Today)

Cairo Geography

Cairo Infrastructure

Health

Education

Transport

Sports

Culture

Media

Economy

Tourism

Cairo Problems

Pollution

Housing

References

Miscellaneous

Town Twinning (Sister Cities)

Famous Cairenes

Lists

See also

External links

Further reading

Tables

History of Cairo