Why Did Egypt Exert Influence On Western Imagination History Essay

Egypt, a unified nation squeezed within the narrow frontiers of the Nile Valley and Delta surrounded by deserts, the paradox lies in the fact that for the last third of the history, these pioneers of civilization and nationhood have been controlled or ruled by foreigners and empires such as the ottoman 1. The ancient Egyptians lived a remarkable culture that created some of the world's most beautiful art and architecture 2. The system of administration and their military was controlled by non-Egyptians; the class that dominates the country has been foreign and also spoken foreign language 3. This essay will look at Egypt as an empire, its culture, land, military and economy. It will also cite why Egypt assert so much influence on western imagination in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. [1] 

Egypt produced a culture that dazzled and awed its conquerors. The Egyptian achievement alone in the construction of pyramids technically showed a measure of skills unique to other empires at that time 4. The spiritual life in Egyptian society was different; Egypt and religion were inseparable element of the world order to which the Egyptian society belonged. To every Egyptian, all of these achievements were part of a cosmic order and that pharaoh was the divine being whose function was to maintain stability 5. Egypt possessed a large and remarkable number of gods associated with heavenly bodies and natural forces; the rich culture of Egypt entices every empire, from the west to the east and from the north to the south of the hemisphere. The empire's richness had a lasting effect on the psyche of westerners. The sun god's effect on the cultural history of Egypt is long lasting and relevant. The god (sun) took on different forms and names depending on the specific function he intends to carry out. He was worshipped as 'Atum' in human form and as RE, who has a human body but the head of a falcon. The pharaoh took the title "son of Re" because he was regarded as the representation or embodiment of Re in human form 6. The river and the land deities were also part of that culture which so much influence in the imagination of westerners. The river and land deities included Osiris and Isis. The former became especially significant and important as a symbol of resurrection 7. Egypt was a Mecca of sort, a hub of attraction for westerners who fell in love with her culture, her history and location. The Osiris myth took on an important role for Egyptians, by identifying with Osiris, one could hope to gain a second life or a new life. The culture of Egypt speaks volume, from the gods to the spirit of the dead, Egypt cherish the dead, the embalmed and the mummified, placed in tombs- and like Osiris, they could be reborn 8.

2Ancient Egypt has allured westerners for many years probably centuries, Jackson j. Spielvogel argued in his work that one of the greatest attainment of Egypt is the building of the pyramids, which occurred in the time of the old kingdom. The pyramids were not built as a single site; it did not stand alone, not in isolation but as part of a larger venue or complex dedicated to the dead. He argued further that the pyramid could be regarded as the 'city of the dead'; he cited that the large pyramid was for the king's burial, smaller pyramid for his family and mastabas, rectangular in shape and size with flat roofs used as tombs for the pharaoh's noble officials 9. The tomb's design, magnificent and fascinating in all ramifications, shocking in its preparation and well prepared for the dead, the rooms were furnished and stocked with numerous supplies including chairs, boats, games and ammunitions. Egyptians believed that human beings had two bodies, a physical body on the one hand and a spiritual body on the other 10. All these beliefs, traditions, values and norms baffled the imagination of the westerners who do not or have never mummified a dead body neither have they ever believed that a dead body could return, the Egyptian culture is rich in every way yet brings about curiosity in the minds of the imperialist west, thus it sets the tone and reason why the empire was invaded by both the British and the French.

In the nineteenth century, Britain in her imperialist best dominated the government, while France was the strongest when it came to culture and intellectual life; and the Greeks controlled commerce 11. Every empire wanted its share of Egypt's natural and human resources, through diplomatic means and military invasion, some successful and some not so successful, they all tried in different ways to capture the Egyptian cultural heritage, the beauty , the history of this ancient civilization was fascinating even to the smallest of empires, every empire from the British to the French, Greek to Ottoman wanted to control this wonderfully situated empire, its geographic location as a cross road between Africa and the rest of the world made Egypt the cynosure of the imperious West 12, the Nile Valley became a universal sign or symbol of exploitation, its richness and vulnerability made it a very attractive exploitative tool. It is not surprising therefore that the Egyptians identified the exploiters as foreigners 13. The Nile Valley through its wealth is one of the reasons Egypt exert so much influence on western imagination.

By the early nineteenth century, Egypt was the most economically developed country in the middle east and Africa, westerners such as the British and the French had added to the countries national wealth by reviving and extending the irrigation system of the Nile, it was argued that the atmosphere was cosmopolitan which had been created to help attract tourist, capital and trade from the other empires. On the one hand, Egyptians argued that the foreigners controlling Egypt took their profits outside the country, on the other hand, within economically buoyant empires; Egypt announced its presence on the international stage by increasing its national capital through trade 14. However, cotton was the major export of Egypt, its main source of foreign exchange and the booster of its booming economy.

3In ancient Egypt, at the peak of its glory women had enjoyed equal rights with men, this exert so much influence in the imagination of west, they had perceived the East or Islam as an ideology of unequal rights but the attitude, culture, tradition, religion and customs of ancient Egypt was in contrast to their perception 15. Islam in Ancient Egypt granted equal rights to both male and female, husband and wife, the women enjoyed social rights, they work around with their face and hair uncovered, they also participate in trade with their husband, the men in ancient Egypt also seek advice from women because he believes that women possess more wisdom than he does 16. This is in contrast to the understanding of the west, the freedom of choice, movement; speech and participation exert so much influence on western imagination and psyche.

The Egyptian history and exertion would not be complete without mentioning the name of Muhammad Ali, an ottoman military officer from the region of Albania who seized power in 180517. During his extraordinary reign in power, Muhammad Ali built a formidable army that threatened the balance of power in Europe and the Ottoman Empire itself. Though, he eventually died in 1848 18, thanks to his visionary leadership, Egypt embarked on a different course for the remainder of the ottoman history. Ali invaded most of the ottoman provinces with his powerful military led by his son Ibrahim Pasha against the ottoman in 1832 19. He successfully captured some of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire but the Russians helped to protect Istanbul from his capture, which stopped Egypt from becoming a dynamic and powerful state 20. The people of Egypt were respectful, hospitable and easy to govern 21.

Ancient Egypt was a superpower in the making before her military fell against the ottoman with the help of Russia, nevertheless, Egypt's cultural heritage speaks volume and also showed why it exerts so much influence, from the sphinx of Giza to the pyramids, even in that ancient era, its artistic quality was of great, quality and important value which cannot be under-estimated, it was beauty to behold and wonders of the world, the construction of such monument in a period where engineering was virtually non existence speaks a great deal of the achievement of Egypt. However, the dead has a special place in ancient Egypt, they are mummified and preserved, they also belief that the dead if well preserved could come back to the world. The geographic representation and location of Egypt made it a point of focus and interest from the imperialist west for reasons of trade, the major export being cotton contributed a massive chunk to the economy. The military under the rule of Muhammad Ali, an Albanian officer helped protect it from attack from external intrusion, with very formidable military might, Egypt wanted to exert itself as a dynamic power but failed in Istanbul. This essay has argued that Egypt assert so much influence on the imagination of the west

through the richness of its culture, the wonderful location around the Nile and Suez canal made a very important economic, cultural and political player in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.