Egypt

--Minorities:

* Christianity
* Other

**Egypt** *(Arabic: مصر)*, officially the **Arab Republic of Egypt**, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and the Sinai Peninsula in the southwest corner of Asia. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip of Palestine and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The Gulf of Aqaba in the northeast separates Egypt from Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt, while Alexandria, the second-largest city, is an important industrial and tourist hub at the Mediterranean coast. At approximately 100 million inhabitants, Egypt is the 14th-most populated country in the world, and the third-most populated in Africa, behind Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Egypt has one of the longest histories of any country, tracing its heritage along the Nile Delta back to the 6th–4th millennia BCE. Considered a cradle of civilisation, Ancient Egypt saw some of the earliest developments of writing, agriculture, urbanisation, organised religion and central government. Egypt's long and rich cultural heritage is an integral part of its national identity, which reflects its unique transcontinental location being simultaneously Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and North African. Egypt was an early and important centre of Christianity, but was largely Islamised in the seventh century. Modern Egypt dates back to 1922, when it gained independence from the British Empire as a monarchy. Following the 1952 revolution, Egypt declared itself a republic, and in 1958 it merged with Syria to form the United Arab Republic, which dissolved in 1961. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Egypt endured social and religious strife and political instability, fighting several armed conflicts with Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, and occupying the Gaza Strip intermittently until 1967. In 1978, Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, officially recognising Israel, in exchange for Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula. After the Arab Spring, which led to the 2011 Egyptian revolution and overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, the country faced a protracted period of political unrest.

Egypt's current government, a semi-presidential republic led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi since 2014, has been described by a number of watchdogs as authoritarian and responsible for perpetuating the country's poor human rights record. Islam is the official religion of Egypt and Arabic is its official language. The great majority of its people live near the banks of the Nile River, an area of about 40,000 square kilometres (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable land is found. The large regions of the Sahara desert, which constitute most of Egypt's territory, are sparsely inhabited. About 43% of Egypt's residents live across the country's urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.

Egypt is considered to be a regional power in North Africa, the Middle East and the Muslim world, and a middle power worldwide. It is a developing country having a diversified economy, which is the third-largest in Africa, the 41st-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the 20th-largest globally by PPP. Egypt is a founding member of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League, the African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the World Youth Forum.

## History

The ancient Egyptian civilization started around 3100 BC when King Narmer united the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt. This marked the beginning of the Old Kingdom period, which was characterized by great architectural achievements such as the building of the great pyramids in Giza. The pharaohs ruled the country during this period, and they were considered living gods. The Middle Kingdom period came next, during which time Egypt went through a time of political and economic instability. The New Kingdom period resurfaced with a strong pharaoh named Ahmose who restored the unity of Egypt and defeated the Hyksos invaders. The New Kingdom period is also known as the Egyptian Empire and is characterized by the building of great temples, such as the Temple of Karnak, in Luxor, and the Temple of Abu Simbel.

After the fall of the ancient Egyptian civilization, Egypt went through different stages of international control. First, it was ruled by the Greeks who had been under Persian control. After that, the Romans arrived in 30 BC and turned Egypt into a province of the Roman empire. During this period, Christianity was introduced to Egypt, and many Coptic Christians were subjected to persecution. The Islamic conquest of Egypt took place in 641 AD, and it was under the rule of the Islamic empire that Egypt became a cultural and economic hub under the Fatimid Dynasty, which was followed by the Mamluk dynasty.

In the 19th century, Egypt became a subject of European colonization specifically the British empire. The British ruled Egypt as a protectorate and exploited the country's resources until Egypt gained independence in 1952. After independence, Egypt developed into a modern nation with a vibrant economy, world-class infrastructure projects including the building of the Aswan Dam, the creation of highways and establishment of industries - especially the textiles industry. Several social and economic challenges have marked the country's modern history including political instability, economic crises, and the rise of radical Islam - as evidenced by the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in recent years and the growth of terrorism. In conclusion, Egypt's history is characterized by incredible achievements in architecture, science, religion, and art, despite political instability and colonization. The country's rich past and vibrant culture continue to inspire a sense of awe and wonder in people today.