Nile Valley Flashcards
Economic + Political problems with the Ottoman Empire
Economic -
Reliant upon French and British investment, up to £100 million debt in 1870.
Egypt’s debt rose from 3 million to 90 million.
The country went bankrupt (1875-6).
Political -
A weak bureaucratic state, which was inefficient.
The land was administered by Khedives who were also poor administrators, eg. Ismail Pasha - lazy and ineffective.
British + French relationship changing
The French originally built the Suez Canal (1869)
Gambetta Note (1882) - military action againsy Arabi Pasha
When the British began bombarding Alexandria in July, the French did not join - 1. New French PM / 2. Scared of Germany.
Key causes for British occupation of Egypt (4)
Strategic
Financial / Trade
Political
Humanitarian
Strategic reasons to occupy Egypt
The Suez Canal within Egypt significantly shortened the trade route to India (not around Africa).
80% of ships that went through the Suez Canal were British.
Protect Suez from potential Russian threat (declining Ottoman Empire)
Anglo-French Rivalry - France (56% share) / Britian (44%) + Britain did not want French influence growing in North Africa
Financial reasons to occupy Egypt
80% of Egyptian exports went to Britain (1880)
During the American Civil War (1861-65), Britain relied on Egyptian cotton.
City of London Bond holders heavily invested in Egypt - attracted by Khedive Pasha’s modernisation policies
Between 1876 -1890, trade between Europe and Eastern World 3x.
37% of Gladstone’s personal wealth was invested in Egypt.
Khedive Ishmail Pasha was a bad leader - Egypt went bankrrupt in 1875 - leading to Dual Control
Political reasons to occupy Egypt
Britain wanted to protect the Mediterranean from Russian influence.
Eager to reassert Imperial dominance (following humilation of 1857 Indian Rebellion).
Many politicians (including Gladstone) were invested in Egypt - wanted to protect their investment
Humanitarian Reasons to occupy Egypt
1/5 of people in Alexandria were European (1882)
100,000 Europeans lived in Europe
Arabi Pasha accused of killing 50 Europeans in riots - justified British intervention.
Why did British influence grow in Egypt ?
The Veil of Protectorate: in practice Britain managed the Egyptian budget and ran the country
Egyptian people required ‘moral improvement’ - religious, cultural and educational intervention
Egypt required modernisation.
Egyptians needed the British, or they would fall into chaos, due to an inability to self-govern - British paternalism
British financial interests were becoming deeply rooted within Egypt.
The British were fearful of Islamic takeover - eg. Arabi Pasha / Mahdi
Key beliefs of Baring / Governing Style
Governor General of Egypt = 1882-1907
Baring believed that British supervision of reforms was essential.
‘Moral Reformer’ - Christian
Dufferin Report (1883) - the Egyptian Parliament was merely a puppet.
Granville Doctrine - Egyptian ministers who did not agree with the British were dismissed.
Ruled Egypt as a ‘veiled protectorate’.
Experienced colonial administrators in positions of power.
Ruled peacefullly alongside (controlling) Khedive Tewfiq
Achievments of Baring
Baring stopped the slave trade into Egypt / abolished forced labour
Halted the import of hashish (cannibis), regulated alcohol licenses and closed many gambling houses.
He also reorganised the Egyptian army, to ensure a suitable white proportion existed, to prevent a Mutiny like India.
His irrigation schemes doubled Egypt’s arable land area.
In the 1880s - 1890s, there was a massive increase in cotton production.
He established a national bank and Post Office Savings Bank to reduce local money lending and extortion.
Failures of Baring
Land irrigation programmes led the soil to become saturated and exhausted + Malaria began to arise from poorly managed soil.
Peasants did not benefit from their reforms, as the price of their agricultural goods remained low and working conditions were not protected.
Despite greater financial solvency, 30% of national income was used to pay off existing debts.
Why was the Mahdi well supported / evidence of support ?
In 1881 - declared his mission was to purify Islam
Charasmatic / Influential religious leader
Militant movement in the Sudan
Established a religious state, captial = Omdurman
Armies with up to 40,000 men
Why did the British initally not want to colonise the Sudan ?
It possessed no strategic interests to the British (eg. Suez Canal) and lacked valuable resources.
Sudan was also a vast desert country, meaning that arable land was minimal.
The existing economy was based upon the Slave trade, which Britain were eager to eradicate (eg. Gordon).
How did General Gordon’s actions and death contribute to the British decision to intervene in Sudan?
General Gordon was instructed to evacuate Khartoum from Mahdist forces.
Instead began making plans to put an Anti-Mahdi leader in charge of the Sudan.
Mahdist forces layed siege upon Khartoum
Gladstone sent a relief force (slow to do), however it arrived two days too late.
Gordon was killed in Khartoum and his head was taken to the Mahdi.
The long term impact of Gordon inspired people (eg. Lord Kitchener) to gain revenge against the Mahdi. This ultimately fuelled Lord Salisbury’s campaign in Sudan in 1896.
What was Lord Kitchener’s role in the British intervention of Sudan?
Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Army (1896)
Reputation of being a cold and ‘ruthless technician of the Empire’, utilising modern technology to assist his warfare.
Following his seizure of Khartoum, he desecrated the Mahdi’s tomb and allegedly used his skull as a drinking cup.
In contrast, when facing French troops in Fashoda, he was able to compromise and have a party.
