Ancient Egypt was one of the longest-lasting civilizations the world has known. Today, Egypt plays a vital role in the politics of the Middle East, and learning about its history, economic pressures, diverse cultures, and social issues is essential to understanding the contemporary Middle East.

Table of Contents

• List of Illustrations
• List of Maps
• Note on Arabic Transliteration and Spelling
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• The Land and Its People
• Ancient Egypt (c. 10,000 b.c.e-525 b.c.e.)
• Persian, Greek, Roman, and Arab Rule (525 B.C.E.-1250 C.E.)
• Mamluk and Ottoman Rule (1250-1798)
• Early Westernizing Reform (1798-1879)
• The British Occupation and Nationalist Resistance (1879-1918)
• Ambiguous Independence (1918-1936)
• The Palestine Question and World War II (1936-1952)
• Military Rule and Arab Nationalism (1952-1961)
• Arab Socialism (1961-1971)
• Anwar Sadat (1971-1981)
• Contemporary Egypt (1981-2007)
• Conclusion
• Appendixes
• Glossary of Terms and Organizations
• Basic Facts about Egypt
• Chronology
• Bibliography
• Suggested Reading