In defining the scope of his military history of Egypt, McGregor (director, Aberfoyle International Security, a Canada-based agency "specializing in strategic and political issues of the Islamic world") has sought to focus on military forces serving the various rulers of Egypt from 1517, the Ottoman conquest, to the Arab-Israeli wars, as opposed to those who may have fought on Egyptian territory but had little to do with the Egyptians themselves, such as Bernard Montgomery or Erwin Rommel. The work describes the role of the Egyptian military in shaping Middle East history and that of the wider world and also considers the on-the-ground experiences of those who fought the battles and wars described.

Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations and proudest national histories in the world with a tradition of a well-maintained, advanced, and relevant military force. Egypt's military force has achieved victory in some of the most significant campaigns of Middle Eastern history, from the Arab conquest in 641 AD to the Ottoman conquest in 1517 AD to the Egyptian-Israeli conflict of 1973. This monograph provides an overview of Egypt's military history, including strategies and tactics used in decisive campaigns, and characteristics of the ancient Egyptian military that could be instilled in the force today through the education of Egyptian officers in Egyptian military and operational art. Some of the key lessons learned from Egyptian military history are as follows: (1) the need for speed and mobility; (2) the importance of support structures -- both an industrial base for producing weaponry and strong logistical supply systems for campaigns; (3) attention to strategic and tactical planning to ensure that the enemy is engaged at times, in places, and under conditions of one's choosing; and (4) the practice, following Clausewitz, of using war as "a continuation of politics by other means." The author recommends the development of an advanced course for officers that applies the lessons learned from Egyptian military history to current doctrine, theory, and campaign planning.

Egypt has one of the oldest civilizations and proudest national histories in the world with a tradition of a well-maintained, advanced and relevant military force. These experiences provided guidance for developing victory in some of the most significant campaigns of Middle Eastern history, from Ottoman Empire conquered Egypt In 1517 AD to the Egyptian-Israeli conflict of 1973. This monograph provides an overview of that history, decisive campaigns, and the features of that military experience in former times that could be useful, in the opinion of the author, for the education of Egyptian military officers today and in the futures--as one element in continuing improvement in Egyptian military and operational art. Some of the key lessons learned from modern Egyptian military history are: 1) The need for speed and mobility. 2) The importance of support structures -- both an industrial base for producing weaponry, and strong logistical supply system for campaigns. 3) Attention to strategic and tactical planning to assure that the enemy is engaged at times, in places, and under conditions of one's choosing 4) The practice, following Clausewitz, of using war as "a continuation of politics by other means". Conclusions and recommendations based on this analysis address how to apply learned lessons from Egyptian military history to current and future officer education. An advanced course, beyond the mid-career staff college, applying lessons from history to current doctrine, theories, and campaign planning, could provide a useful framework for using lessons learned from history for current and future military practice.

A history of Egypt from the Arab conquest to the present day.

"Certainly the best general history available in English."--Times Literary Supplement.

The recent revolution in Egypt has shaken the Arab world to its roots. The most populous Arab country and the historical center of Arab intellectual life, Egypt is a lynchpin of the US's Middle East strategy, receiving more aid than any nation except Israel. This is not the first time that the world and has turned its gaze to Egypt, however. A half century ago, Egypt under Nasser became the putative leader of the Arab world and a beacon for all developing nations. Yet in the decades prior to the 2011 revolution, it was ruled over by a sclerotic regime plagued by nepotism and corruption. During that time, its economy declined into near shambles, a severely overpopulated Cairo fell into disrepair, and it produced scores of violent Islamic extremists such as Ayman al-Zawahiri and Mohammed Atta. In this new and updated paperback edition of The Struggle for Egypt, Steven Cook--a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations--explains how this parlous state of affairs came to be, why the revolution occurred, and where Egypt is headed now. A sweeping account of Egypt in the modern era, it incisively chronicles all of the nation's central historical episodes: the decline of British rule, the rise of Nasser and his quest to become a pan-Arab leader, Egypt's decision to make peace with Israel and ally with the United States, the assassination of Sadat, the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and--finally--the demonstrations that convulsed Tahrir Square and overthrew an entrenched regime. And for the paperback edition, Cook has updated the book to include coverage of the recent political events in Egypt, including the election of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi as President. Throughout Egypt's history, there has been an intense debate to define what Egypt is, what it stands for, and its relation to the world. Egyptians now have an opportunity to finally answer these questions. Doing so in a way that appeals to the vast majority of Egyptians, Cook notes, will be difficult but ultimately necessary if Egypt is to become an economically dynamic and politically vibrant society.

While previous scholarship has viewed Mehmed Ali Pasha as the founder of modern Egypt, Khaled Fahmy offers a new interpretation of his role in the rise of Egyptian nationalism, locating him in the Ottoman context as an ambitious Ottoman reformer. Basing his work on previously neglected archival material, the author demonstrates how Mehmed Ali sought to develop the Egyptian economy and to build up the army, not as a means of gaining Egyptian independence from the Ottoman Empire, but to further his own ambitions for hereditary rule over the province. In its analysis of nation-building and the construction of state power, the book makes a significant contribution to the larger theoretical debates. It will therefore be essential reading for students in the field, as well as for Ottomanists, military historians and those interested in the development of the modern nation-state.