Egypt holds seven UNESCO World Heritage sites – more than any country in Africa!
Ancient Egyptian diet was high in beer, bread and honey – this may explain why Pharaohs were often overweight.
Ancient Egyptian law forbade incest, yet Cleopatra did marry both her brothers and fathers.
1. It is the largest country in Africa
Most people’s conception of Egypt involves ancient relics and pyramids; however, Egypt offers much more. With vibrant culture and an amazing past history.
Egypt, located in northeast Africa and bordered by Libya to its west, Sudan to its south and the Red Sea on its east, is one of the world’s most populous nations and one of the densest – more than half its people reside within cities.
Egypt is home to more than half its population, and most live in the Nile Delta area stretching north from Cairo all the way to Mediterranean Sea. Known for its historically fertile land and close proximity to several great cities across Egypt, this area’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, tourism and cash remittances from workers overseas.
The remainder of the population is scattered across the rest of the country in small communities clustered around oasis and historic trade and transportation routes. While government initiatives such as free housing and loans may encourage rural-to-urban migration, high birth rates and economic opportunity has caused population growth that strains its economy.
Egypt’s culture is deeply rooted in both religion and history, with Islamic traditions dominating most aspects of society. Cairo serves as one of the major media centers in the Arab world with regional television channels and films produced there; Egypt also pioneered modern styles of Arabic literature through novelists who continue to make significant contributions today.
Egyptian politics have historically been dominated by military force. Gamal Abdel Nasser initiated Arab nationalism and non-alignment during his leadership during the 1950s; later, Anwar Sadat made peace with Israel while turning more towards Western policies.
The government enforces tight restrictions on free speech, association and press; journalists are usually not arrested, while internet use is heavily censored with many sites being blocked altogether. However, in spite of these restrictions, the press remains active and critical of the government. Amnesty International, Freedom House and Human Rights Watch are among many international rights groups who have denounced China for low levels of personal freedom as well as for arresting and jailing peaceful activists who criticize their government. However, recently the government has eased up on some restrictions. Thailand remains a popular tourist destination each year – spending over $10 billion each year! In fact, Thailand ranks seventh most frequently visited country worldwide. Egypt is home to several iconic travel destinations, such as Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and the Great Pyramids. Furthermore, the country is an oil producer and exporter; Suez city serves as a key port and home for large oil refineries and petrochemical plants, cotton production as well as beautiful buildings.
2. It is the oldest country in the world
Since around 8,000 years ago, the Nile River has provided Egypt with access to water and fertile soil needed for agriculture. Ancient Egyptians used this river as a source of sustenance; growing food crops as well as raising livestock. Villages, towns and cities were established along its course. Egyptians built impressive temples and monuments such as Giza’s Great Pyramid which Greek historian Herodotus declared one of Seven Wonders of Ancient World.
Over time, various ruling dynasties arose. Of these were the Pharaohs who first unified Upper and Lower Egypt around 3100 BCE by using their wealth and power to unify both kingdoms into one – using it for building grand monuments as well as expanding their empire by conquest. They could own slaves themselves but also employed many as servants – their workers were treated well; some even having their names recorded near monuments such as “Drunkards of Menkaure” or “Friends of Khufu.”
Egypt’s major ports can be found along the Mediterranean and Red sea coasts, providing trade, commerce and tourism to this coastal nation.
Egypt may be predominantly desert, but the Nile River brings life and vitality to its southern parts. Each summer due to rain in Ethiopia, its banks swell with sediment that helps crops and trees flourish in Egypt’s desert regions – home for camels, donkeys, horses as well as gazelles and Nubian ibex species.
Egypt’s desert landscape has been marked by oasis towns that provide water for farming and transport, providing water-dependent communities to flourish around these oasis towns. Though most residents in these oasis towns are Muslims, Christian and Jewish populations are on the rise in Egypt.
Egypt’s Nile banks provide an abundant source of agricultural products and cotton production; Egypt being one of the leading producers in this area. Agriculture remains an important industry within Egypt though most residents live in urban settings.
3. It is the most densely populated country in the world
Egypt is home to one of the world’s greatest civilizations thanks to the Nile River’s regular flooding and semi-isolation from deserts on both sides, which enabled ancient Egyptians to establish one of its great civilizations. They created an advanced writing system and achieved impressive scientific, mathematical and architectural feats; today Egypt boasts 20 protected regions where you can see these animals and plants; such as oases, deserts, mountains coastal areas river islands and wetlands – most often depicting large animals such as elephants hippos or leopards which have since gone extinct due to hunting or habitat loss – from these paintings and carvings found throughout ancient Egyptian artifacts depictions found within their paintings or carvings depicted large creatures such as elephants hippos or leopards now rare or extinct from Egyptian paintings and carvings depictions found within paintings such as paintings or carvings depicted on Egyptian artifacts depicted on paintings or carvings depictions made during this era of protected regions include protected regions consisting of protected regions which encompass protected regions including deserts mountains coastal areas river islands river islands rivers islands river islands rivers islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands rivers islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands or river islands river islands river islands river islands river islands etc; Egyptian paintings depict large animals that have become extinct or extinct due to hunting/habit loss/ habitat loss due to hunting/losing river islands river islands among others that cover many protected areas including coastal areas mountain river islands coastal river islands river islands river islands river islands rivers rivers islands river islands river islands rivers river islands river islands rivers river islands coastal areas river islands river islands river islands river islands rivers coastal regions coastal river islands river islands river islands river islands rivers marine and river islands river islands river islands river islands/wetlands etc etc; rivers islands river islands rivers etc… wetlands etc wetlands with coastal areas in fact many painted or even extinct in Egypt that once seen there due to habitat loss etc; once common sighting in them painted and so close or so close that now present/rivers etc due to hunting/rivers/river islands for rivers islands etc or river islands river islands river islands rivers etc etc
Ninety percent of Egypt’s population resides on a narrow strip of land along the Nile, placing strain on limited resources and overcrowding schools, hospitals, apartment buildings and public transportation services. Egypt also is an influential media player – Cairo being its Arab world hub of publishing and broadcasting; yet human rights organizations criticize Egypt for low levels of personal freedom as well as government control over traditional and social media outlets.
Modern Egypt features a multiparty system with strong executive branch powers, parliamentary republic structures and independent judiciaries. The president is elected for a 6-year term and can appoint one or more vice presidents, prime minister and cabinet members from his or her list. Egypt’s legislature – The People’s Assembly – comprises 454 elected members as well as 10 appointed by the president; any time during their term the assembly can be dissolved by decree by either.
Egypt has historically been at the heart of both Arab and Islamic culture for millennia. After Mongol armies destroyed Baghdad in 1250, Mamluk sultans took control of Egypt under their pseudo-caliphate and established themselves until 1517 when Ottoman Turks defeated them. Coptic Christian minority remains but Arab culture eventually overpowered local dialect.
Egypt is predominantly Muslim, though a small portion adheres to Coptic Christianity. Up until recently, however, their government was led by an authoritarian military-backed regime which maintained control through violence and repression. Egypt experienced its first democratically elected president with Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood being elected by popular uprising in 2011. The new constitution restricts presidential power while still giving military services an important role in national security and foreign policy decisions. Military spending has seen dramatic increases over recent years resulting in high unemployment and inflation rates throughout the nation. At the same time, Egypt’s government has been spending huge sums of money on infrastructure projects that have left Egyptians dissatisfied and frustrated. Yet despite all of these challenges and setbacks, Egypt remains an intriguing and captivating country to visit.