Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali Pasha, also known as Muhammad Ali of Egypt, was an

Albanian general who ascended to power in Egypt in the early nineteenth century.
He is regarded as one of Egypt's most influential statesmen, having modernized the
country and created the groundwork for a powerful centralized state. This essay
will analyze the history of Egypt under Muhammad Ali, using references from
Britannica and Brill. Muhammad Ali landed in Egypt in 1801 as part of the
Ottoman army destined to overthrow Egypt's long-ruling Mamluks. He rapidly
established himself as a capable and ambitious soldier, and the Ottoman sultan
nominated him as governor of Egypt in 1805. During Muhammad Ali's reign in
Egypt, a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the country and bolstering its
economy and military were implemented. Establishing an army in the manner of
the European Union was one of Muhammad Ali's most important reforms. He
brought in foreign specialists to educate his forces in contemporary tactics and
weapons, and he instituted a conscription system to maintain a continual supply of
soldiers. Muhammad Ali's attempts to expand Egypt's territory, which included the
conquest of Sudan, sections of Arabia, and Syria, were made possible by the new
army. The economic reforms of Muhammad Ali were also essential to modernizing
Egypt. He introduced new crops such as cotton and promoted their growth through
rewards and subsidies. Additionally, he built facilities to transform the harvest into
fabrics that were shipped to Europe. These exports' earnings were utilized to pay
for additional economic development projects like the installation of irrigation
systems and the expansion of transportation infrastructure. Muhammad Ali's
efforts to change the judicial system were a crucial component of his leadership.
He formed courts to carry out the new rules and regulations that he introduced,
which were based on European models. The former judicial system, which was
based on Islamic law and the Mamluks' authority, was less effective and efficient
than the new one. Muhammad Ali made a significant impact on Egyptian culture
and education as well. In addition to Islamic studies, he founded educational
institutions that taught areas like physics, math, and engineering. He supported the
creation of a national literature as well as the Arabic translation of European
literature. Muhammad Ali's leadership was not without controversy, though.
Despite being effective, his conquest expeditions were frequently harsh, which
caused local communities to be uprooted and suffer. Farmers and laborers suffered
from the effects of his economic policies, such as the forced production of cotton.
Additionally, his family's power was consolidated under his centralized rule, which
resulted in the stifling of dissent. He also suppressed political opposition. In
conclusion, Egypt's history changed dramatically during Muhammad Ali's rule
there. He enacted changes that strengthened the central government and
modernized the economy, military, legal system, and educational system. Yet, due
to the fact that many of his measures had unfavorable effects on the Egyptian
populace, his leadership was also clouded in controversy and criticism. Ultimately,
Muhammad Ali's legacy is still a significant part of Egyptian history and has an
ongoing impact on the nation.

Sarah Ghostine