Who was Muhammad Ali of Egypt?

Answer 1

1769- 1849) Viceroy of Egypt from 1805 until 1848. He became the founder of the dynasty that would rule Egypt until 1952 (ending with King Faruk).

Muhamamd Ali is noted for establishing the modern Egypt as an independent country. He was involved in several reform programs aiming at creating a modern Egyptian society after the European model.

Muhammad Ali reached his position by his own skills, and his position was under threat both from the

Ottoman Sultan as well as from Egyptian groups. The most important act to secure his position was to eliminate the Mamluks, the military elite which could have threatened his own position. He also managed to impose great control over other groups that in many respects had enjoyed great independence from the state earlier, like merchants and the Bedouins.

Among his most dramatic reforms was to expropriated land, and by 1815 most of the agricultural land had come into the hands of the state. This secured him great revenues.

He had the irrigation system improved and had new crops were introduced. Cotton is most notable here; today Egyptian cotton is considered to be of the very best quality.

There was also a program to introduce modern industrial production. This largely failed, both because Egypt lacked sources of power as well as a fit work force on all levels. The shortcomings were especially problematic on the management level.

In order to meet the needs of the modernized society, Muhammad Ali had schools started for educating engineers, doctors and other specialists.

Much of Muhammad Ali's reform programs were abandoned after his death. Some projects were not well established, while other reforms were abandoned due to lack of interest with his successors.