A Military History of Modern Egypt - by Andrew McGregor (Hardcover)

About the Book

Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations and proudest national histories in the world, but most military histories treat it as a mere battleground for other great imperial powers such as the Ottoman Empire, the French, and the British. In a lively and stirring narrative, this work tells the untold story of the Egyptian experience. It looks at the lives of Egyptian soldiers fighting at home and abroad, and shows the roles those soldiers and their leaders have played in Middle-Eastern and world history for 500 years--especially in the convulsions that have transformed the Muslim world during the past two centuries.

Beginning with an overview of Egypt's ancient and medieval heritage, the book then explores Ottoman military rule, explaining how a tiny Turkish-speaking minority maintained absolute power by keeping military knowledge out of the grasp of native Egyptians. Readers will see how Napoleon's failed Egyptian campaign of 1798 introduced the nation to Europe but, more important, brought modern Western influences to Egypt. During the 19th century, new arms and tactics and the rising force of nationalism transformed Egypt as the empire of the Ottoman Turks slowly decayed. Independence was thwarted by the British, who took over the country in the 1880s to secure links to India. Yet the British paved the way for independence, retraining and strengthening the Egyptian military to make it the strongest and most nationalist force in the country. Finally, McGregor's closing chapters look at Arab nationalism, and at the Egyptian army in the wars of the late 20th century.

Book Synopsis

Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations and proudest national histories in the world, but most military histories treat it as a mere battleground for other great imperial powers such as the Ottoman Empire, the French, and the British. In a lively and stirring narrative, this work tells the untold story of the Egyptian experience. It looks at the lives of Egyptian soldiers fighting at home and abroad, and shows the roles those soldiers and their leaders have played in Middle-Eastern and world history for 500 years--especially in the convulsions that have transformed the Muslim world during the past two centuries.

Beginning with an overview of Egypt's ancient and medieval heritage, the book then explores Ottoman military rule, explaining how a tiny Turkish-speaking minority maintained absolute power by keeping military knowledge out of the grasp of native Egyptians. Readers will see how Napoleon's failed Egyptian campaign of 1798 introduced the nation to Europe but, more important, brought modern Western influences to Egypt. During the 19th century, new arms and tactics and the rising force of nationalism transformed Egypt as the empire of the Ottoman Turks slowly decayed. Independence was thwarted by the British, who took over the country in the 1880s to secure links to India. Yet the British paved the way for independence, retraining and strengthening the Egyptian military to make it the strongest and most nationalist force in the country. Finally, McGregor's closing chapters look at Arab nationalism, and at the Egyptian army in the wars of the late 20th century.

Review Quotes

"McGregor offers a military history of modern Egypt from the Ottoman Turkish conquest of Egypt in 1517 to the Ramadan War with Israel in 1973. He stresses the role of Egypt and the Egyptians during this almost 500-year period when Egypt was subjected to foreign rule--Mamluk or Turkish or British. The book reviews, for example, Muhammad Ali's aspirations in Arabia, Greece, and Syria and Britain's imperial misadventures in the Sudan. For readers interested in the evolution of military tactics and technology, not to mention the brutality of warfare and the careless loss of military and nonmilitary lives. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." --Choice

"Andrew McGregor's new book attempts a daunting feat--distilling 460 years of Egyptian military history into just over 300 pages. The first effort to do so in any language, it provides a handy reference tool." --The Journal of Military History

"In defining the scope of his military history of Egypt, McGregor has sought to focus on military forces serving the various rulers of Egypt from 1517, the Ottoman conquest, to the Arab-Israeli wars, as opposed to those who may have fought on Egyptian territory but had little to do with the Egyptians themselves, such as Bernard Montgomery or Erwin Rommel. The work describes the role of the Egyptian military in shaping Middle East history and that of the wider world and also considers the on-the-ground experiences of those who fought the battles and wars described." --Reference & Research Book News

"[C]harts the evolution of one of the world's oldest civilizations and its military structure. Where other histories would survey Egypt's strategic location alone, this charts the nation's soldiers and their battles, surveying the history of their fighting at home and abroad and linking this history to developments in the region as a whole. With its roots in ancient and medieval culture, A Military History of Modern Egypt is packed with excellent detail and insights." --Midwest Book Review - California Bookwatch

About the Author

Andrew McGregor is a graduate of the Near Eastern Studies Department of the University of Toronto. He is currently Director of Aberfoyle International Security, a Toronto-based agency specializing in strategic and political issues of the Islamic world. He is the author of A History of Darfur, has published many articles on historical and security issues, and frequently provides commentary for television, radio and print media outlets.