Egypt

=Peter Riley & Noah Rosen= = = =__**Egypt**__= = =



Exports: cotten, grain, imported spices || Imports: Machinery, food products, chemicals, wood products, fuel Exports: Crude Oil, petroleum, cotten, textiles, metal products, chemicals, processed goods ||
 * || Ancient || Modern ||
 * Population ||  || 80,471,869 as of July 2010 ||
 * Per Capita Income ||  || GDP per capita: $6200 ||
 * Land area || Northern Nile River Valley || 995,450 sq km ||
 * Political system/Gov't || Monarchy with theocratic aspects || Republic ||
 * Imports/exports || Imports: food(such as herbs, spices, etc.,) wine, wood products
 * Cultural Traditions || Many Islamic traditions such as daily prayer to Allah, and fasting during Ramadan. People wore colorful clothing, and a lot of jewelry such as scarab beetles and hamsas. || Most people consider themselves to be Arab, so Egyptians follow a lot of Arab Muslim traditions, but the Egyptian culture is more complex because of its long history and numerous empires that controlled and bordered it. For example, the Nubians, an empire originated on the Sudan-Egypt border, has an affect on Egyptian traditions because there are still Nubians today that live in Egypt. ||
 * Religion(s) || Predominately Muslim || 90% Muslim, 9% Coptic, 1% other christian ||

__Summary__
Egypt has been a powerful country for thousands of years. Since Egypt was a very successful and prosperous empire in ancient times, their traditions and culture have been retained and some are still evident today. Egypt has evolved politically and culturally because it has been conquered by many empires over time. Through cultural diffusion, the many empires that at one time ruled Egypt left traditions that are relevant in Egypt's modern society. These empires include the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and lastly, the Ottoman Empire. Egypt is now 90% Muslim, due to its proximity to the birthplaces and center of the Islamic world, Mecca and Medina. Geographically, Egypt has changed because, as shown on the map of ancient Egypt above, Egypt has controlled parts of the modern day countries of Ethiopia and Sudan. Egypt has undergone revolution and has overthrown its oppressive ruler of three decades, Hosni Mubarak, and is in a transitional state with a bright horizon.

=**__Timeline__**=

642 AD- Arabs capture Cairo, truly introducing Islam to Egypt

969 AD- The Fatimids conquer Egypt

970 AD- Al-Azhar University is founded

c.1500 AD- The Ottomans conquer Egypt

1953- Egypt becomes a sovereign state

1968- Construction of the Aswan High Dam is started

1971- Egypt adopts its Constitution

14 October 1981- Hosni Mubarak becomes president of Egypt

25 January 2011- Protests erupt in Cairo and other Egyptian cities

11 February 2011- Hosni Mubarak resigns