The country that we know call Egypt is one of the oldest loci of human civilization. This area, probably because of the richness of the Nile River delta, supported a relatively stable and wealthy society. Having adequate food without constant effort allowed a focus on development in a variety of areas, including mathematics, science and medicine. But it also allowed those in charge, essentially dictators, to disproportionately benefit from that growing wealth. Human frailties are dominant throughout the history of Egypt. From its early origins in central Africa, it was a short trek for humanity to the locale that is now Egypt and to other areas around the Mediterranean Sea.
Much of the early history of the country centered around beliefs about death. The early rulers decided to build immense monuments to themselves that would survive and supposedly support them in the afterlife; leaving us with a fascinating legacy of pyramids, temples and other structures. The general populace suffered to build these monuments and had little hope in this life or any possible afterlife. Then came other civilizations, seeking to control the wealth in Egypt. Successive waves of invasion left the general population in no better shape and with no benefits. Greece, Rome, Persia, Arabs, then Europeans ruled for an extended period. Egyptians were generally unable to find an ability to repel these invaders and control their own country.
Meanwhile the Muslim influence was growing and has created its own tensions in the country and done immense damage to its pluralistic society, which once held large numbers of Christians and Jews. Essentially religiously based wars in the last century have imposed significant damage. Now the country is ruled by military dictators. All along, the Egyptian people have shown resilience and patience, but the intelligence and hard-working nature of that population have provided few rewards for the average person and poverty is very prevalent. Egypt is an seminal example of how prone humans are to being ruled by a few power-made individuals who have enough followers to dominate by fear and violence. And the consequence is suffering for many and a failure to advance humanity through utilization of the wider population’s capabilities.
The Shortest History of Egypt and A Concise History of Egypt are both good introductions to the story of this very old country.
