Then and Now

A sociologist examines the history of Egypt from the pharaohs to the present, shedding light on its cultural deterioration and the dilemmas it faces today.

The story of Egypt’s long history is one of gradual descent from a wealthy, organized, sophisticated society to its contemporary milieu of corruption and poverty. For more than four thousand years, it earned the moniker om el donya, mother of the world. But when Cleopatra died, the independent rule of the pharaohs died with her. This seismic event not only transferred power to Rome, but also shattered the foundations of Egyptian society.

For the following two millennia, a succession of foreign occupations and despotic rulers undermined Egypt’s national identity. They exported her wealth, imported a new language and culture, and spawned social values that are inimical to the very notion of modernity. Understanding these developments provides one possible route to getting a handle on the social and cultural situation in Egypt today.