History of Egypt:

The history of Egypt:

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the greatest civilizations of the world. A unified kingdom arose around 3200 BC and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 BC, who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. After completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important hub of transportation in the world, but also fell heavily into debt. Pretext of protecting its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the sanctuary of the Nile in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government is struggling to prepare the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.