Timeline / Before 1800 to 1910 / EGYPT

Date Country Theme

1796 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

The residence, Bayt al-Suhaymi is built.

1801 Egypt Migrations

Mehmed Hüsrev Pasha commands 6,000 Turkish troops to assist the British in expelling the French from Rashid. For this he is assigned Governor of Egypt.

1805 - 1867 Egypt Political Context

During this time Egypt is a legally nominal Ottoman province governed by a wali on behalf of the Ottoman Sultan, although de facto it is virtually independent, with its walis styling themselves as Khedives. Despite their legally subservient status, Egypt’s walis enjoy far more political power than their descendants, who, decades later, rule the country as nominally independent sultans and kings.

1807 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

On 8 May Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha, the Ottoman Governor of Egypt, gives the order to start digging the Mahmudiya Canal, from the River Nile to Alexandria through al- Buhayra, to transport water and as a route for cargo ships.

1808 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha builds Shubra Palace on the site of a former kiosk where walis went for recreation during the Ottoman era.

1809 - 1829 Egypt Migrations

Description de l'Egypte first appears in 1809 and continues to be published as a series until the final volume appears in 1829. It offers a comprehensive scientific description of ancient and modern Egypt as well as its natural history.

1811 Egypt Political Context

On 1 March, Muhammad ‘Ali invites some 470 Mamluk beys to the Citadel for a feast to celebrate his son’s imminent departure for Mecca. When the feasting is over the Mamluks mount their lavishly decorated horses and are led in procession down the narrow, high-sided defile, below what is now the Police Museum. As they approach Bab al-Azab, the great gates swing closed and gunfire rains down on them from above. After the fusillades, Muhammad ‘Ali’s soldiers wade in with swords and axes to finish the job. Legend relates that only one Mamluk escaped alive, leaping over the wall on his horse.

1816 Egypt Political Context

Ibrahim Pasha leads Egypt’s expedition to Hijaz and crushes the Wahhabi Revolution.

1816 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes Date Country Theme

Modern education in Egypt starts with the School of Engineering, which is established by Muhammad ‘Ali in the Castle during 1816, to train and prepare specialists in that area.

1820 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

Muhammad ‘Ali sends the first educational “mission” of Egyptian students to Europe.

1827 Egypt Political Context

When under the command of an Ottoman representative the entire Egyptian navy is sunk by the European Allied fleet, Muhammad ‘Ali asks for the territory of Syria in compensation.

1827 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

A School of Medicine is established at Abu Za‘bal and annexed to the Military Hospital there due to the efforts of Clot Bek, a French physician. A fatwa is then issued by Sheikh Hasan al-Attar, which allowed anatomizing cadavers as long as it was done in order to prevent disease.

1827 Egypt Migrations

The French physician Antoine Barthelemy Clot, Clot Bey as he was known in Egypt, becomes the first director of the Medical School and Hospital in Egypt.

1827 - 1831 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

A School of Veterinary Medicine emerges in Rashid in 1827, which then transfers to a building beside the School of Medicine at Abu Za‘bal in 1831. Here the veterinary hospital is able to accommodate up to 110 horses and includes a Pharmacy, a Hall of Anatomy and areas for student and staff subsistence.

1828 - 1848 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

The Mosque of Muhammad ‘Ali is built between 1828 and 1848. Perched on the summit of the Citadel, the Ottoman mosque with its animated silhouette and twin minarets, the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th century, is the most visible mosque in Cairo.

1829 Egypt Migrations

Al-Waqa'i`a al-Masriya is established by order of Khedive Muhammad ‘Ali. It is the first indigenous Middle Eastern newspaper, initially written in both Ottoman Turkish and Arabic.

1834 Egypt Economy And Trade

A Khedival Decree promulgates the issue of an Egyptian currency consisting of a bi-metallic base of gold and silver. The Egyptian pound, known as the geneih is introduced, which replaces the Egyptian piastre (ersh) as the main unit of currency. Date Country Theme

1835 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

Opening of shipping routes between Alexandria and Marseille.

1836 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

Rifa’a al-Rafi’ al-Tahtawi founds the School of Languages to educate and train professional interpreters and translators.

1837 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

The year sees the founding of Egypt’s oldest commercial science study centre, when the School of Account is established during Muhammad ‘Ali’s Era.

1843 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Muhammad Sharif Pasha builds the Sharif Pasha Palace situated on Kirdassi Street, off Hasan al-Akbar Street, in Cairo. The Pasha held a number of important posts during the reigns of Muhammad ‘Ali and his successors.

1846 Egypt Travelling

Ibrahim Pasha is received with respect and curiosity when he visits western Europe.

1854 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

Sa‘id Pasha’s accession to the Viceroyalty of Egypt provides French businessman Ferdinand de Lesseps new impulse to develop the Suez Canal.

1863 - 1879 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

Education attracts renewed interest during Isma‘il Pasha’s era. His government establishes schools and reviews students’ expenses, including their living expenses, which sees the restoration of the Diwan (or ministry) of Schools that Sa‘id had annulled. Now as the education budget increased, gradually, the government also returned to dispatching missions to Europe, mostly to France. A number of primary schools were established across the country: from Alexandria in the north to Minya in the south.

1863 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

On 18 October, under the rule of Khedive Isma‘il, the Egyptian Museum opens in the Caireen district of Bulaq under the management of French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, known as Mariette Pasha.

1863 Egypt Migrations

Muhammad Sa‘id Pasha dispatches part of a Sudanese battalion to help stop a rebellion against the Second Mexican Empire.

1865 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century Date Country Theme

The royal yacht Mahroussa is built for Isma‘il Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt.

1866 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

The first Egyptian stamps are issued on 1 January.

1866 - 1867 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

In 1866 the School of Irrigation and Architecture is inaugurated at al-Za‘faran Saray in ‘Abbasiyya in Cairo; it then transfers to Mustafa Fadil Saray at Darb al-Jama‘iz in 1867. The School provides a study programme of five years: a preparatory year followed by a further four years; two years respectively specialising in irrigation and architecture.

1867 Egypt Travelling

Khedive Isma‘il Pasha visits Paris and then London, where he is received by Queen Victoria and welcomed by the Lord Mayor. He attends a British Royal Navy fleet review alongside the Ottoman Sultan.

1868 - 1874 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Construction of the Abdeen Palace in Cairo begins in 1868 and inauguration takes place some six years later.

1868 - 1886 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

A Law School is established during Isma‘il Pasha’s era in 1868. Known then as the School of Management and Languages, the two schools separate in 1882 and remain as such until July 1886. That year, it becomes the School of Law with two departments, primary and high.

1869 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

The Opera House is inaugurated in November 1869 with Verdi’s Opera Rigoletto. In attendance, seated in the Royal loge, are Khedive Isma‘il Pasha, Empress Eugénie and her husband Napoleon III, and François Joseph I of Austria.

1869 Egypt Travelling

Khedive Isma‘il Pasha visits Britain.

1869 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Khedive Isma‘il commissions a French company to construct the first bridge across the River Nile in Cairo, the Qasr al-Nil Bridge.

1869 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

With completion of the Suez Canal a number of dignitaries and high-profile personalities arrive in Egypt for the inauguration, including Empress Eugénie of France. Date Country Theme

1871 Egypt Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion

Giuseppe Verdi’s Egyptian-themed Aida premiers in Cairo on 24 December.

1871 - 1877 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Jezira Bridge is constructed in 1871 and opens to traffic in 1877. The intention is to link the districts of Dokki and Bulaq al-Dakrur with Zamalek. Construction requires redirection of the Nile bed.

1874 Egypt Migrations

Khedive Isma‘il attempts to reduce slave trading and extends Egypt’s rule in Africa. Managing to annex Darfur in 1874, he is prevented from further expansion into Ethiopia when his army is defeated by the Emperor Yohannes IV.

1875 - 1876 Egypt Economy And Trade

In December 1875 Stephen Cave and John Stokes are sent by the British Government to inquire into the finances of Egypt. Their report, published in April 1876, advises that in view of the perceived “waste and extravagance” it is necessary for foreign powers to interfere to restore credit.

1875 Egypt Migrations

The Egyptian Geographic Society is established by a decree of Khedive Isma‘il Pasha on 19 May 1875. Its first president is the German botanist, traveller and ethnologist Georg August Schweinfurth.

1877 Egypt Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion

Yaqub Sanu‘ founds the satirical magazine Abu Naddara early in this year. It has immediate and wide appeal to both the literate and the illiterate, who find someone to read it to them.

1879 - 1882 Egypt Political Context

The ’Urabi Revolution, led by Colonel Ahmed ’Urabi, erupts in February 1879 and continues until 1882. It is the first revolution of the modern age in Egypt.

1882 Egypt Political Context

Britain occupies Egypt.

1883 - 1903 Egypt Economy And Trade

The Egyptian Exchange, one of the oldest stock markets in the Middle East, traces its origins to 1883 when the Alexandria Stock Exchange is established, followed by the Cairo Stock Exchange in 1903.

1883 Egypt Travelling Date Country Theme

Arriving in Egypt as diplomatic agent and Consul-General of Britain, Sir Evelyn Baring’s (Lord Cromer’s) first task is to demand that Khedive Muhammad Tawfiq should abandon Sudan. Tawfiq consents reluctantly, but having done so he then does everything he can to ensure success of the policy that Baring has been sent to carry out.

1885 - 1889 Egypt Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion

The singer Salama Hijazi turns to acting with the Kirdahi and al-Haddad troupes. Through his contributions, many musical theatre troupes emerge such as Aziz Eed, Naguib al-Rihani and ‘Ali al-Kassar. As one of the first artists to travel abroad, Hijazi achieves worldwide acclaim for his musical and theatrical works. Warmly welcomed in Italy, Syria and Tunisia, he is granted awards of appreciation by many international governments. Hijazi’s statue stands at the Museum of Napoli.

1885 Egypt Economy And Trade

Alexandria’s Futures Market is one of the oldest in the world. The first recorded local cotton transaction takes place in 1885 in Café de l’Europe on the Place des Consuls, later renamed Muhammad ‘Ali Square. It is here that cotton merchants meet and cut deals based on supply and demand for the long staple, Karnak and Menuf, or the short to medium staple, Ashmuni, Giza and Zagora. Over the years, deals extend to cottonseed varieties such as Hull, Afifi and Sakellaridis.

1887 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

El-Hakaneia Palace on Manshieh Square in Alexandria is designed by Alfonso Maniscalco in the Beaux-Arts tradition. Constructed as the seat of the “Mixed Tribunals” the building is still used as a courthouse today.

1890 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

The Alexandria Sporting Club is built; it is one of the oldest clubs in Egypt.

1892 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Muntazah Palace is constructed for Khedive ‘Abbas, which he uses as both a hunting lodge and residence for his companion.

1892 Egypt Travelling

The Greco-Roman Museum of Alexandria is created.

1894 - 1900 Egypt Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion

Qasim Amin publishes his book Les Egyptiens in French in 1894. In it he rejects the negative claims against the traditions of Oriental society made by Duke Drocom in his book, L’Egypte et les Egyptiens. In defence of Islam, Amin compares the rights of women according to Islam with those of civilized European women. In 1899, he then publishes The Emancipation of Women, which is severely criticized. In 1900, Amin refutes the arguments of his critics with The New Woman, a work that provides fresh fuel to his ardent battle for the emancipation of women. Date Country Theme

1898 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

Shahin Pasha Aqueduct, constructed under Muhammad ‘Ali and located between the Omar Shah and Tukuz Tamar (Darb el-Jamamiz) aqueducts, is infilled with earth.

1898 - 1902 Egypt Great Inventions Of The 19th Century

The British begin construction of the first Dam across the Nile in 1898 and work continues to 1902. Opened on 10 December 1902, the Aswan Low Dam is a gravity (masonry) buttress dam on the Nile in Aswan.

1899 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

Prince Muhammad ‘Ali Tawfiq is responsible for opening the Al-Manyal Palace Museum in 1899, which is set in a large garden of thirty feddans (approx 31 acres).

1899 Egypt Migrations

British diplomat Alfred Mitchell-Innes was appointed Under-Secretary of State for Finance in Egypt.

1899 Egypt Travelling

British diplomat Alfred Mitchell-Innes is appointed Undersecretary of State for Finance in Egypt.

1899 Egypt Economy And Trade

The National Bank of Egypt introduces notes in denominations of 50 piasters, and one, five, ten, 50 and 100 Egyptian pounds.

1900 Egypt Travelling

On a visit to Britain, ‘Abbas Hilmi II tells the authorities that he thinks the British have carried out good work in Egypt. He declares himself ready to cooperate with British officials administering Egypt and Sudan.

1903 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

The House of Arab Antiquities opens on 28 December 1903, located on Bab al- Khalq Square which is famous for its Islamic infrastructure: the mosques of Ahmad ibn Tulun and Muhammad ‘Ali, and the Citadel of Saladin. The Museum is only the second concrete-iron building to be constructed after the Egyptian Museum.

1904 Egypt Cities And Urban Spaces

The Egyptian Geological Museum (EGM) is established and opened to the public as part of the Egyptian Geological Survey (EGS), founded earlier in 1896. The Museum supports the theses that Egyptians are pioneers in extraction and utilization of metals and stones, the essential basics of civilization, and that they were the first to discover gold and copper and mine them from the Eastern Desert and Sinai. Date Country Theme

1905 Egypt Reforms And Social Changes

The Egyptian Olympic Athletes Club is built in Alexandria.

1909 Egypt Economy And Trade

Trading had hardly started that day (30 April) at Shari‘ al-Borsa al-Jadida or New Bourse Street when it was announced that Raphael Suares, the leading laissez- faire banker-industrialist in Egypt, had passed away. The Bourse closed for the rest of the day. It was largely thanks to Saures’ efforts that Cairo had a bourse in the first place. His unexpected and early death meant that Suares missed by only a few months the imposition of the first ever bourse regulations.