|
Cairo History
The area that occupies the actual city of Cairo has been continuously inhabited since 3500 years ago and almost 9 different cities have been located in this place. The earliest known settlement is Babylon Fort, which was constructed by Romans. It is even said that the Holy family settled in this area. The name Cairo means in Arabic victorious the same word that it used to refer the planet Mars.
Pyramids in Giza near Cairo
The first Muslim warriors arrived to this zone in 642 from the Arab peninsula, commanded by Amr Ibn al-As.The medieval city of Cairo was founded in 969 by Gawhar al Sakely, the leader of the Fatimide Caliphate’s army, which invaded Egypt. In that time the city was called “Al-Qahira” and it was located near the ancient Egypt’s “Khere-ohe” also known as Heliopolis. During the Fatimide invasion, it was constructed the “Al Azhar” mosque, which is still the main mosque and the university of the new capital of Egypt. By 1168 Cairo was one of the largest cities in the world with around 500 000 inhabitants; in that year a serious threat was posed to the Fatimids, because of, the arrival of the Crusaders who advanced into Egypt from Palestine. Then, the Selujk Turks leaded by Salah ad-Din forced the Fatimids into exile. Salah ad-Din ordered the construction of the Citadel near Moukkattam Hill. The family of Salah ad-Din ruled in Cairo until 1250 when Al-Saleh one of the descendents of Salah Din died.
Cairo Citadel and Tombs
Then the power was seized by the Mamelukes (Turkish slave soldier class), who ruled during 267 years. This time was a development period in the city; since, Cairo became the intellectual and cultural center of the Muslim world. Nevertheless, this period of prosperity finished when the Portuguese Vasco da Gama discovered a new route to India. This fact marked the end of the heavy taxes demanded by Cairo to the European merchants. In 1516 the Mameluke dynasty succumbed when the Turkish Suktan Selim invaded the city.
King Farouk in 1938
Istambul ruled over whole Egypt until XVIII century, when the French troops leaded by Napoleon arrived to Egypt. Then, in 1807 Egypt is invaded again by the British navy commanded by the General Frazer. Nevertheless, this time the Egyptian people resisted the invasion and they supported to the Albanian officer Mohamed Ali Pasha who arrived to the power in 1811. He then firmly established his control on the country and disposed of his Mameluke opponents in a sinister massacre. He also was responsible for the construction of many buildings of European style, amongst them the “Mohamed Ali Mosque”, one of the most impressive structures in Cairo. During its government, it was also constructed the most part of the train network. One of the successors of Pasha was "Khedive Said", who received a great quantity of money from Europe because of the construction of the Suez Canal. Khedive was notorious for his lavish lifestyle. He constructed several luxury palaces and villas.
During the first half of the XX century, Egypt was under the supervision of the UK and France, which finally led to its occupation by Great Britain. In 1952 a revolution forced to king Farouk to abdicate and the British troops were expulsed from Egypt.
Now, Cairo is the capital of Egypt and one of the largest and most important cities of Africa with around 18000000 people, with a government stable and an economy supported mainly by tourism.
Back to:
Arabic in Cairo
Arabic in Egypt
Arabic courses
| 
Send to a friend
