Quick Facts
- Continental region – Egypt is a Mediterranean country that is situated in both the northeastern corner of the African continent and the southwestern portion of Asia.
- Currency symbol of Egypt –EGP (Egyptian Pound) is the official currency of Arab Republic of Egypt and symbol is E£
- Capital City –Cairo
- Official languages –Arabic
- Population – 102,843,979 (2020)
- Country dialling code – (+20)
- Official website – Egypt
- Top 3 biggest industries –Agriculture, Energy, Oil and Gas
- Google Maps link –Egypt
- Where is it? –Egypt is a transcontinental country that stretches from the northeast corner of Africa to the southwest corner of Asia. The Sinai Peninsula of Egypt acts as the land bridge between these two continents. Egypt is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres of the Earth.
Egypt In Pictures
Egypt History
- How did the country get its first name? –The previous name for Egypt was Kmt “Black-land” (Coptic Keme), the narrow and very fertile Nile Valley, as opposed to the surrounding desert, known as Egyptian dšrt “red-land, desert” = Latin desertum “desert.”
- How did the country get its current name? -The name ‘Egypt’ comes from the Greek Aegyptos which was the Greek pronunciation of the ancient Egyptian name ‘Hwt-Ka-Ptah’ (“Mansion of the Spirit of Ptah”), originally the name of the city of Memphis.
- When and by whom the country was first discovered? -The history of ancient Egypt spans the period from the early prehistoric settlements of the northern Nile valley to the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. The pharaonic period, the period in which Egypt was ruled by a pharaoh, is dated from the 32nd century BC, when Upper and Lower Egypt were unified, until the country fell under Macedonian rule in 332 BC.
- Who were the first Inhabitants? –The first people to inhabit Egypt were nomadic or semi nomadic groups who lived during the Paleolithic (“Old Stone Age”) Period, possibly around 500,000 years ago, but it is impossible to be very precise with dates.
- When it was first recognized as a country? –Modern Egypt dates back to 1922, when it gained independence from the British Empire as a monarchy. Following the 1952 revolution, Egypt declared itself a republic, and in 1958 it merged with Syria to form the United Arab Republic, which dissolved in 1961.
- Who was the first leader of the country? –The first president of Egypt was Mohamed Naguib, one of the leaders of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, who took office on 18 June 1953, the day on which Egypt was declared a republic.
Five Significant Events
- 332 BCE Alexander the Great conquers Egypt: Alexander the Great conquers of ancient Macedonia, conquers Egypt, founds Alexandria. A Macedonian dynasty rules until 31 BC. (https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Egypt/Macedonian-and-Ptolemaic-Egypt-332-30-bce)
- 1517 Egypt part of Turkish Empire: Egypt absorbed into the Turkish Ottoman empire.(https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/ottoman-empire)
- Prehistoric Egypt: Prehistoric Egypt refers to the era when the very first settlers made their homes along the Nile River. According to Egyptologists, the settlements started around 3100 BC which is referred to as the Early Dynastic Period. (https://damienmarieathope.com/2017/01/prehistoric-egypt-40000-to-5150-years-ago-to-the-first-dynasty-date-5150-years-ago/?v=32aec8db952d)
- Construction of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara: After the death of Djoser in the 27th century BC his high official Imhotep started and directed the construction of the Step Pyramid. The design consists of six steps or mastabas, layered on top of each other and decreasing in size. (https://silo.pub/introduction-to-the-archaeology-of-ancient-egypt.html)
- Construction of Paramid Giza: The Great Pyramid of Giza was also known as the Pyramid of Khufu and stands 481 feet (147 meters) tall. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pyramids-of-Giza)
Five Places to Visit in Egypt
- Hurghada: Hurghada is a resort town on the edge of the Red Sea, easily reached via a bumpy six-hour bus ride from Cairo. It offers a more popular alternative to Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab and is now one of Egypt’s most-visited tourist destinations. (https://longbeach.com-hurghada.com/)
- Alexandria: The second-largest city and leading seaport in Egypt, Alexandria has a prime location on the edge of the Mediterranean. Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, the city was once considered the crossroads of the world (http://www.alexandria.gov.eg/alex/english/index.aspx)
- Saqqara: The highlight of Saqqara is the Step Pyramid of Djoser – the oldest pyramid on Earth. You’ll find some of the best views of the Nile from the top of this pyramid, accessible via a wooden ramp when the gate is open. (http://www.saqqarahthegame.com/)
- Siwa Oasis: Located near Egypt’s western border, Siwa Oasis remained culturally isolated from the rest of the country until late in the 19th century. Surrounded by the Egyptian Sand Sea, the Siwan people developed their own unique customs as well as their own language, Siwi, a Berber dialect. (https://www.oasisegyptsafari.com/)
- Sharm El-Sheikh: Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most popular resort towns in Egypt, located at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. With its warm, deep blue water and great golden beaches, Sharm (as it’s affectionately called) is a popular package holiday destination with its own airport. (http://www.sierrasharmelsheikh.info/)
References:
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/egp.asp#:~:text=EGP%20%28Egyptian%20Pound%29%20is%20the%20official%20currency%20of,stands%20for%20livre%20%C3%A9gyptienne%2C%20French%20for%20Egyptian%20pound.
- https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/egypt-population/
- https://www.howtocallabroad.com/egypt/
- https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-biggest-industries-in-egypt.html
- https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-did-egypt-get-its-name.html#:~:text=The%20current%20English%20name%20%E2%80%9CEgypt%E2%80%9D%20as%20we%20know,%E2%80%9CEgypte%E2%80%9D%20in%20Middle%20French%20and%20%E2%80%9CAegyptus%E2%80%9D%20in%20Latin.
- https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/egypt
- https://www.ancient.eu/egypt/#:~:text=Egypt%20is%20a%20country%20in%20North%20Africa%2C%20on,originally%20the%20name%20of%20the%20city%20of%20Memphis.
- https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/predynlist/
- https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/egypt-history/top-10-important-events-egypt/#:~:text=%20Top%2010%20Most%20Important%20Events%20in%20Ancient,of%20Giza%20and%20the%20two%20other…%20More%20
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