Egypt is a fertile land on the Nile with a very rich history. Various eras have shaped its culture and destiny.
One of the world's most amazing civilizations arose in the fertile region around the Nile River, protected from the east and west by the desert. As early as 3,200 BC, a kingdom was established here, which then existed under the rule of many dynasties for three millennia. The rule of the last of these dynasties was ended by the Persians in 341 BC, who were later replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines.
In the 7th century, when the Arabs occupied the country, Islam became the official religion and Arabic began to be spoken here. Around 1250, a local military caste called the Mamluks came to power and ruled until 1517, when Egypt was conquered by the expanding Ottoman Empire.
After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important shipping hub, but at the same time it also became heavily indebted. Great Britain, which wanted to protect its investments there, therefore took control of the Egyptian government. The country did not gain full independence until 1952.
The construction was of great importance. Aswan dams and Lake Nasser in 1971, which, however, disrupted the centuries-old ecology of the Nile River and worsened conditions for agriculture. In recent decades, Egypt has experienced unprecedented population growth, which, combined with a shortage of agricultural land, has led to a deterioration in the economic situation. This became fully apparent during the demonstrations against President Mubarak's government, which began in January 2011.
