This classic work by P.G. Vatikiotis was first published in 1969 and has been reissued three times (1980, 1985, and 1991). This insightful and user-friendly introduction to the development of Egypt and Egyptian society from 1800 to the 1990s is not only aimed at those interested in the history of Arab/Egyptian culture but also at the general reader, offering a comprehensive and meaningful overview of the social, political, economic, and cultural achievements of the Nile country.

The narrative follows three major thematic axes. The first is the continuity of Egyptian society from antiquity to the present day, ultimately due to the interaction between the natural and human environment. The second concerns the processes through which this continuity—under the influence and modifications brought by Islam and the Arabic language—shaped the collective and individual beliefs of the Egyptian people, their worldview, relationships among people, and with their leaders. The third axis refers to Egypt’s encounter with European culture during the 19th and 20th centuries.

This book gives us the opportunity to see a familiar land, the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations, through the history of its natives; to become acquainted with the general characteristics of the country and its people, from the long-suffering fellahin to the leaders; to follow their eventful journey from the Napoleonic expedition, through British occupation, the imposition of the Protectorate, and the declaration of independence, to the Free Officers' coup and the leading role they sought in the Arab world.