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Egypt
Culture & History
Personality, Culture, & Identity
WARNING: Egypt is currently unstable,
please read this travel
warning before going!
Egypt is the Nile River itself; it's life and death,
the coming and going of seasons, it's fleeting, yet permanent. Like Alexandria,
Egypt is not the result of their history or the Pharaohs, but rather is the creation
of the people who came and went over the centuries.
While most Egyptians don't claim any relation to the ancient Egyptian civilization,
the link to their past is inevitable. The Pharaohs came and went, then Cleopatra
and the Romans, the Greeks with Alexander the Great, and the Islamic Arabs. Each
of these groups influenced modern Egyptian culture, which today is primarily Muslim,
yet maintains a Christian minority and bridges the Islamic world with
Europe through their roots and connections.
Like the Nile's rising and falling with the seasons, the Egyptian
people have adapted to numerous changes in power. Today the people are friendly
and outgoing, willing to offer help, but also eager to sell you a Taiwanese-made
souvenir of the Pyramids. Life appears to move quickly,
but the opportunity to buy a goat on the streets of Cairo
will always create pause.
Today's Egyptians primarily see themselves simply as
Egyptian, but what that means is defined differently by each individual. One person
might see that as being a liberal Muslim, another as a member of the Arab world,
as a bridge between east and west, as the future, or simply as a gracious host.
History
Egypt's history begins and ends with the location of
the country along the Nile River. This river, and its flooding each year provides
water to sustain life and grow crops. The monuments of Egypt's past Pharaohs
are present along the river from Aswan to Alexandria and everywhere in between.
The ancient Egyptians invented stone buildings and became architectural masterminds
and leaders. They created an advanced civilization and government, with each Pharaoh
him or herself acting as a god on earth. Many aspects of ancient Egypt have maintained
value and meaning in today's society. Perhaps the most significant being that
the river means life, and the desert death. This is exemplified with funeral monuments
of the ancients being in the desert, and even today the flag of Egypt symbolizes
this (black represents the fertile soil of the Nile flood plain and life, whereas
red symbolized the sands and death).
In 45 Christianity arrived in Egypt with St. Mark. Religious
differences were welcomed in Egypt at the time, but under Roman rule many Christians
were persecuted in Egypt until Rome adopted Christianity as their official religion
in 324. This Egyptian sect of Christianity held a great deal of influence for a
number of years. Today, there are regions, particularly in
Cairo that remain Coptic Christian, a group that consists of about 10% of
the country's population.
In about 640 Mohamed invaded Egypt. The Muslims took the
region without much effort and forced taxes on non-believers, encouraging most of
Egypt's population to convert to Islam. This event brought with it the ethnic
Arabs and the Muslim religion, which is how most Egyptians today identify.
Although Egypt changed continually over the next few centuries,
the country experienced no major changes until the French
and English fought for power around the turn of
the 18th century. Neither group took complete control, which allowed Mohammed Ali
to take power in Egypt. During Mohammed Ali's reign he modernized the army,
improved the country's infrastructure, advanced education, and altered the country's
economy.
Shortly after Mohammed Ali's rule the Suez Canal was completed (1869) and provided
the quickest transportation route from India and the Far
East to Europe. This event placed Egypt
in the middle of the trading world, however the cost of the canal caught up to Egypt
and in the 1870s the country was forced to sell the Suez Canal to the
British. Soon after, the British took control of the country.
In 1952 the Egyptians overthrew the
British and later that same year, they overthrew the monarchy (which had
essentially been a facade, ruling under British power). After some turmoil, particularly
surrounding control over the Suez Canal, the new Egyptian government solidified
their claim on power.
The new and independent government of Egypt immediately
put themselves in conflict with their relatively new neighbor, Israel. The 1960s
saw battles between the Egyptians and Israelis, with Egypt on the losing end of
all major battles. In 1973 fortunes turned when the Egyptians launched a surprise
attack on Israel.
In 1977 Egypt and Israel signed a truce. This truce gave
Egypt the land they lost in earlier battles (the Sinai Peninsula) in exchange for
Israel's official recognition by Egypt. This recognition sent shock waves throughout
the Arab world and Egypt lost much of its influence in the Middle East, while gaining
influence as an ally of Europe and
North America (the locations of Israel's major allies). This turn towards
Europe led to Islamic extremists becoming more active and aggressive, eventually
leading to a number of bombings at tourist locations. These attacks backfired as
the economy, with a strong base in tourism shrunk and the people stood up in defense
of the government.
Recently, in 2011 political unrest again escalated as protesters took to the streets
demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. The protesters eventually
won, however the economy has stalled yet again as tourism has stopped and many local
shops were forced to close as the shop owners began protecting their businesses
from protesters and looters.
Dress & Behavior
As a primarily Muslim country, there are a number of religious laws which should
be obeyed by everyone in Egypt, including tourists.
It is considered inappropriate for women to leave their hair uncovered, however
this is slowly changing in Egypt, especially among foreigners.
Women covering their heads will show great respect to their culture, however most
Egyptians understand if you don't cover your hair. For many women in Egypt,
showing one's hair is a sign that she is ready to marry and is looking for an
available man.
Both women and men are expected to cover their legs and shoulders; showing your
knees can be very offensive. 3/4 length pants, like Capris and short sleeve shirts
are only looked down upon by strict Muslims, however wearing full length pants and
long sleeves at all times is the best course of action. Staying at a seaside resort
often times allows these rules to be ignored, but follow the example of locals in
these places.
Islamic law forbids pork products and alcohol. Being a fairly liberal Muslim country,
drinking alcohol is not completely unheard of by the locals, but public drinking
or intoxication is strictly forbidden. Pork products are difficult to find in Egypt
since there is little market for pork. Avoiding these foods is easy due to its inaccessibility.
To learn more about dining etiquette in Egypt, visit the
Egyptian Food page.
This page was last updated: September, 2011