Muhammad Ali Pasha
Muhammad Ali Pasha was one of those remarkable individuals who was able to realize his ambition. It began with brilliant individuals who dreamed of establishing something greater than themselves, such as their nation, country, and long-lived dynasty, as it did with all great kings from history books.
His Origin
Muhammad Ali Pasha (March 4, 1769 – August 2, 1849) began his career as an Ottoman Albanian commander in the Ottoman army and climbed to become Egypt’s ruler. Because of the vast changes to Egypt’s economic, military, and cultural elements, he is recognized as the father and founder of modern Egypt.
He utilized his leadership abilities, political savvy, and guile to restore peace, wealth, law, and order to Egypt, which had grown into a genuine powerhouse with global clout at the time.
Egypt’s ruler
In 1798, Egypt was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, but it was also occupied by French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte, who defeated the Mamluk rulers on the battlefield.
However, in 1801 the French forces were forced to withdraw, leaving a vacuum, which Muhammad Ali took advantage of by appointing himself as the Ottoman “Wali” governor of Egypt. He utilized the public’s and religious establishment’s backing to gain more authority and command of the kingdom, as well as to overthrow the Mamluks, who had ruled Egypt for almost 600 years.
The Mamluks assembled in the Cairo citadel on March 1, 1181, and Muhammad Ali’s men began slaughtering all sixty-four Mamluks, including twenty-four leaders. He then despatched his troops across Egypt to exterminate any surviving Mamluk forces. He wanted to establish his own dynasty and kingdom independent of the Ottoman Empire, thus he turned Egypt into a regional power and declared himself the natural heir. His dynasty governed Egypt from the year it was founded in 1805 to the Egyptian Revolution in 1953 AD.
Achievements by Muhammad Ali Pasha
He realized he needed a stronger economy and military. This would separate Egypt from the Ottoman Empire. To achieve this, he devised a new agricultural plan. He cultivated crops like rice, sugarcane, and especially cotton, only for export.
Economic and Military Reforms
All revenue from agricultural exports went into public works. Mohamed Ali funded national projects like irrigation, canals, dams, and barrages. He also dissolved his foreign army. He replaced it with a new army of Egyptians, led by Turks. French officers trained them in combat.
Educational Revolution
He also launched an educational revolution. He built Western-style schools and colleges. These schools trained physicians, engineers, and veterinarians. He also sent educational missions to Europe. Egyptians learned modern techniques from Europeans. This helped him complete his bureaucracy.
Industrial and Political Challenges
He began Egypt’s industrial period. He built factories to produce sugar, glass, and textiles. These products could compete with European goods. He also built ships and weapons for Egypt’s new army and navy.
However, his grand plan had a dark side. He introduced extra taxes to pay for his expensive initiatives. This caused him to lose a lot of popular support. His monopolization of international trade also grew. This strained his relationship with Britain. Britain saw Egypt as a threat to its economic power.
In 1831, he tried to expand his kingdom by invading Syria. But Britain, France, and Russia defeated him. Muhammad Ali Pasha had no choice but to accept the 1841 treaty. The treaty required him to give up all acquired lands except for Sudan. In exchange, he received the hereditary governorship of Egypt for life.
The Legacy of Muhammad Ali
In 1848, he gave Egypt’s rule to his son, Ibrahim. Ibrahim died soon after. He himself died in 1849. He left a lasting legacy, which you can see at Cairo’s famous Muhammad Ali mosque.
Under his leadership, Egypt became a great nation. This happened because of rapid economic development and modernization. He joined the world community as an independent state. It was no longer a province of the Ottoman Empire.
He created a strong army based on scientific principles. He opened Egypt to European trade and economic opportunities. Most importantly, he improved education to European standards. He transformed Egypt into an industrial nation. He gave birth to what we now call modern Egypt.
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