The Occupation of Egypt Flashcards
When was Egypt invaded? By whom?
1882, by Gladstone (l-c liberal) to protect his ‘people’ of Empire from a dictator.
Until when was there a British military presence in Egypt?
There was a British military presence in Egypt until the Suez Canal crisis in 1956.
What political cartoon depicts the nature of empire in high imperialism?
‘The English Imperial Octopus’, 1882 America.
What European influence preceded British intervention in the later 1800s?
Napoleon’s ‘civilising mission’ of 1798.
Who suggests that modern colonialism began in Egypt?
Edward Said
How did Europeans perceive Egypt?
As a territory in need of civilising, ironic considering Egypt founded civilisation.
What piece of artwork shows how uncivilised Europeans perceived Egypt to be?
‘Napoleon in Egypt’ by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1867.
Who was Khedive of Egypt for the first half of the 1800s?
Muhammed Ali, he didn’t speak Arabic and held a lot of agency despite supposedly being under the Ottoman Empire’s watchful eye.
What two things did Muhammed Ali’s Khediveship focus on?
- the expansion and protection of the cotton industry,
- the creation of a European-like standing army.
How did Britain achieve the free trade agreement of 1840 with Egypt?
By blockading Egyptian access to the Mediterranean
What was the French influence in Egypt?
France maintained cultural dominance whilst Britain claimed trading dominance.
What was the effect of British economic involvement inEgypt?
Due to the largely still mercantilist practises, the Egyptian economy was in a frequent state of collapse apart from in the raw cotton industry which served Britain.
What percentage of exports from Egypt went to Britain in 1880?
80%
What percentage of imports to Egypt were from Britain?
44%
When was the Suez Canal created? How was it made?
17 November 1869: ‘Egyptian labour, French engineers, for British money’
What did the creation of the Suez Canal achieve?
A quicker route to Bombay: 7,200 .v. 12,300 miles
When did the crisis in Egypt arise, and what was formed to combat it?
1875-6, a collapse of government led to the creation of the Anglo-French alliance of 1878.
What was the Anglo-French alliance a product of?
the Caisse de la Dette Publique (A debt commission for the Suez Canal formed by the Khedive)
Who tried to overthrow the Anglo-French alliance?
Ishmail Pasha, the Khedive before the alliance who bankrupted the country with his modernising policies
Who was Ishmail Pasha replaced by?
His son Tewfik
Who was the leader of the Egyptian nationalist movement and what was his motto?
Colonel Ahmed Urabi, his motto was ‘Egypt for Egyptians’.
When was the Urabi Revolt?
1881-2
What did the Urabi revolt begin as?
An imposed government of liberalisation and reform, yet GB and France retaliated and continued to prop-up Tewfik
When did Urabi become a minister?
February 1882
What happened in July 1882?
The Bombardment of Alexandria by rebel forces
Why was Alexandria a significant attack for the rebels?
Because it was the main port to the Mediterranean in Egypt and had been heavily Europeanised
How many people died out of the 200,000 inhabitants of Alexandria?
50 Europeans, 150 Egyptians
What was the British retaliation to the Bombardment of Alexandria?
The Royal Navy razed the city to the ground and then occupied the area, rebels were exiled or condemned, an international conference was called.
Why did the British-called international convention following the Bombardment of Alexandria fail?
France was too concerned with its Tunisian protectorate and the Turks refused to intervene, this left Britain alone. to deal with the Egyptian problem
In 40 years, how many times did Gladstone publicly commit to Egypt?
66 times
What could be an ulterior motive for Gladstone’s push at British intervention?
37% of his financial portfolio was in Egyptian investments
Why was Egypt so important to Britain?
Egypt was at the centre of the empire, the Suez Canal’s creation further increased its use as a trading point for British goods as it provided easy access to eastern countries
