Reading Questions
- Why was Muhammad Ali Pasha able to take control of Egypt?
- What effects did raising cotton have on Egyptian agriculture?
- What effects did funding the Suez Canal with foreign capital have on Egypt?
Egyptian Modernization
The Ottoman empire had difficulties trying to fit into the modern industrialized world. They lost territory including control of Egypt. Napoleon invaded in 1798 but left in 1799. That left a power vacuum. A new leader emerged.
Muhammad Ali Pasha
Muhammad Ali was sent by the Ottomans as part of an expeditionary force but soon broke away and took control of Egypt for himself. By 1808, he began a series of reforms to industrialize Egypt. He began by modernizing the army based on the European model. He established schools and set up a newspaper called the Islamic World. |
Modernization in land and industry
More importantly, he taxed the “tax farmers” and peasants so highly that they lost their lands to the state. Peasants lost the use of their land they traditionally farmed and were force to grow cash crops in place of food crops. Ali then began to force the growth of cotton for export. He also required all producers of any kind to sell their goods to the state for resale. This left Egypt dependent on the cotton export. Muhammad Ali did establish state-run factories that produced textiles, armaments, and ships that he used to build a navy. Muhammad Ali Pasha is considered the father of modern Egypt. |
The Suez Canal
Ali’s grandson Isma’il continued the modernization of Egypt. He supported the construction of the Suez Canal. The canal would connect the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This would save time and money since ships no longer needed to sail around Africa. The canal was financed by French and British banks. Isma’il’s and Egypt soon could not pay the $450 million dollar debt. The British took control of the canal and invaded Egypt in 1882.
Ali’s grandson Isma’il continued the modernization of Egypt. He supported the construction of the Suez Canal. The canal would connect the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This would save time and money since ships no longer needed to sail around Africa. The canal was financed by French and British banks. Isma’il’s and Egypt soon could not pay the $450 million dollar debt. The British took control of the canal and invaded Egypt in 1882.