The Suez Canal

1. The Suez Canal Said Pasha (1854-1863) Ferdinand De Lesseps

2. 1869 November Empress Eugenieat the opening of the Suez Canal

3. Ismail Pasha, khedive of Egypt and Sudan (1863-1979) ‘Egypt is a marvellous instance of progress. She has advanced as much in seventy years as many other countries have done in five hundred.’ (The Times, 1876) ‘My country is no longer in Africa; we are now part of Europe.’ (Ismail)

4. Education Demografic growth and Urbanisation By the end of the century, the population of Cairo had increased by two-thirds, while Alexandria had grown twenty-fold. On the whole, population had increased three-fold during the century. ‘Schools are the base of progress’ (Ismail). Female schooling was a major target. By 1873 the government opened the first female elementary schools. By 1874 a secondary school was set up. In 1875 there were 890 girls out of 5362 pupils of state elementary schools.

5. Extension of Sudanese possessions under Ismail Chronology 1823: Karthoumwasfounded 1877: Charles Gordon (1833-1885) was appointed Governor-General of the Sudan 1881: Muhammad Ahmadproclaimedhimselfmahdi (“guidedbyGod”) jihād vs Egyptians (‘oppressors and corrupted’)  1885: the mahdiconquered Khartoum and proclaimed the independanceof the Sudanese State  jihād vs Ethiopian Empire  1896: advanceof the Anglo-Egyptianarmy, led by avanzata Herbert Kitchener 1898: fallofKarthoum

6. Charles Gordon (1833-1885)Governor-General of the Sudan (1877) George W. Joy’s portrayal of Gordon’s death

7. Can Muhammad ‘Ali be considered the father of Egyptian nationalism? •  Basically, he transformed Egypt in a Mediterranean power. • ‘Muhammad Ali secured for Egypt a large measure of independence, but this was to serve his personal ambition. He could hardly be an Egyptian patriot when he did not regard himself as an Egyptian.’ (Mansfield) • Was Muhammad ‘Ali a forerunner of Arab nationalism? •  He was Albanian and did not speak Arabic. •  ‘Muhammad ‘Ali did not have any idea of a national Arab renaissance. When he thought to claim the caliphate to the sultan, it was not for placing it in Arab hands. He remained an Albanian/Turk who never learned to speak Arabic. Ibrahim, it is true, chose to regard himself as an Egyptian – much to his father’s disgust. He spoke Arabic and could identify with his Arab soldiers. He dreamed of a revived Arab empire and sometimes rallied his troupes and evoked with them the glorious past.’ (Mansfield)