One reason was economic. Likewise, Cape Colony was occupied to ensure it … Britain was responsible […] With this advantage, Britain decided to heavily tax the ships which passed through. Imperial powers have extensive spheres of influence, in which their overwhelming power enables them to coerce or persuade countries to align their policies with the hegemon’s interests. At first, in what was called a veiled protectorate, Britain managed the Egyptian budget, took over the training of its military, and (although it had no legal authority to do so) basically ran Egypt through a series of commissions designed to protect British investments. He first serves in Egypt from 1877 to 1880 as the British member of the commission responsible for coping with the Egyptian debt. Egypt's once balanced culture and economy was corrupted and exploited by the powerful British Empire. In 1882, the British invaded and conquered Egypt to put down a revolt of Egyptian army officers. Eventually as time passed, a withdrawal agreement was made that led Egypt to their independence. Why did the British colonize West Africa? Britain negotiated with local tribe leaders to gain more land. This would make the British sound more formidable and have a better reputation. When Britain started to colonize Sudan, they had to find a way to destroy the hopes the French had of taking Sudan. By the end of 1954, Gamal Abdel Nasser had induced Britain to accept total withdrawal by June 1956 and set to work to undermine Britain’s position in Iraq and Jordan. This allowed the British government to greedily control Egypt's economic and political decisions, and thus profit largely. The Arab chain reaction against Britain started in Egypt, where in July 1952 a group of army officers seized power. The veile… From 1882-1922, Britain formally occupied Egypt and controlled its government. This brought them into conflict with the Boers. They funded the Suez Canal and steadily increased their economic base in the country. But Ethiopia would go to war and win the 1895 Battle of Adwa, against Italy in order to defend its territorial sovereignty. Five years after Egypt’s colonization, Britain created the British Somaliland (Somalia History). As a result of the Crimean War, the Ottoman Empire became more reliant on Britain and France because Through the colonization of Egypt, Britain gained control of the Suez Canal, a major part of the world trade routes. EGYPT was considered to be a treasure, becuase of its fertile land and its production of alot of crops such as wheat corn and cotton, also they wanted to control Egypt in order to secure the main route to India, Malaya, Australia, New Zealand (and also to Hong Kong), which all belonged to the British Empire at the time. This Egypt, at the dawn of the 20th century, was a … economic imperialism. Though the Sahara desert is just on the outskirts of Egypt, the soil around the Nile delta is quite fertile and good for growing crops. BRITISH COLONIZATION 1900 - 1920 Continued negative feelings toward the British Britain declares Egypt a protectorate and orders all foreign vessels out of Suez Canal Ottomans defeated Britain grants Egypt a constitution Timeline of Egyptian Colonization BRITISH COLONIZATION 1880 Egypt gained full independence from the British in 1936. read more The British occupied Egypt in 1882, but they did not annex it: a nominally independent Egyptian government continued to operate. Egypt was colonized by several civilizations throughout history, including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mamelukes, Ottoman Turks, French and British. The reason of this essay is to determine how British colonial ruled and gained control on Egypt nation for nearly 40 years and affected it in many ways. Britain occupied Egypt in 1882 to ensure that the Suez Canal was protected from any rivals, as it was fundamental in trading with India. Tensions between Boers and British led to the Boer War of 1899-1902. The British colonized Africa in about 1870. The British occupation started in 1882 as a result of the immense debt that Egypt had accrued to European powers, bankers and investors, and its influence continued up to the 1952 revolution. Some Egyptians resented the European control of their economy and the extortion interest rates of the loans. The British and French controlled all Egyptian finances, railways, ports, post offices, and even the museums (James 269). Instead of leaving Egypt to its people, Britain decided to colonize the country and control it through a protectorate. The British rushed to Cairo. Greeks also colonized Cyrenaica around the same time. Britain, France, Italy, Egypt and Ethiopia colonized Somalia. The British takeover of Egypt was an example of British expansionism. Britain wanted to take over the coast of Somalia, in order to guard the Suez Canal. Soldiers were sent to various places to train while other got ready to retreat from the city. Under Egypt's Pharaoh Amasis (570–526 BC) a Greek mercantile colony was established at Naucratis, some 50 miles from the later Alexandria. British occupation: 1882-1914: The dominant figure during the years of the British occupation of Egypt is Evelyn Baring, a member of a long-established British family of bankers. The Congress of Berlin, held between 1884 and 1885, laid out the rules for European colonization, meaning in the 30 years following, European countries divided up newly colonized territories in a series of bilateral agreements. Britan was engaged in an expansion competition with France, to the degree that French and British colonies settled in North America began in-fighting throughout much of the early 18th century. Rommel stopped at Alamein because his troops were exhausted and almost out of supplies. Colonialism is the policy of a country seeking to extend or retain its authority over other people or territories, generally with the aim of economic dominance. In Egypt, the British spent over ten million pounds every year. The British had several reasons to colonize Kenya in 1895. The economic situation of Egypt before its colonization was quite good. industrialization. For the preceding 40 years, Egypt had lived as a free state – ruled, on paper, by the British government, but in practice allowed to live under the rule of its own leaders and to practice its own faiths. The new international boundaries were “drawn by Europeans, for Europeans,” and paid littl… It wasn't long before British and Egyptian forces clashed with a decisive British victory and by September of 1882, Britain had captured Cairo and occupied Egypt. It was colonized at around 1882 due to Orabi, one of the leaders of the Egyptian army, losing. British interest in Egypt developed during the American Civil War. The nations failing economic system and the lands strategic economic and military positioning, especially in relation to the Suez Canal, led to the desire of many European countries to imperialise the nation. This is the transition that led to the colonization of Sudan under the power of the British (Benjamin 1061). colonization. The first period of British rule (1882–1914) is often called the "veiled protectorate". Egypt was colonized by England due to a fierce war between the two. After the Ottomans decided to join the First World War on the side of the Central Powers, Egypt was declared a British protectorate. They wanted these resources because they needed them for manufacturing. So they launched this joint-ruling relationship with Egypt where they would each colonize Sudan together (Benjamin 1061). In June 1956 the British troops quit Suez on schedule. However, when gold and diamonds were discovered in the 1860s-1880s their interest in the region increased. Along with its colonial rivals, Britain was responsible for drawing international boundaries onto Africa in the late 1800s. Napoleon's foray into Egypt in 1798, in the midst of the French Revolution, began a long string of European adventures in the Middle East, leading to colonization… In July of 1942, the British were pushed back almost to Alexandria. It was in the year 1882 that Egypt was legitimately ‘acquired’ by Britain, one of Europe’s greatest powers, (The Earl of Cromer, 1908). Egypt first took over the coast in 1875. There was also an attempt in 513 BC to establish a Greek colony between Cyrene and Carthage, which resulted in the combined local and Carthaginian expulsion two years later of the Greek colonists. The British occupation of Egypt had some positive effects on Egypt as a country and in regards to its people. First of all when they took over Egypt, Egypt became proctectorate. Although the idea that Egypt would become a British colony was regarded by most as being highly fanciful. The working and owning class maintained the industrial aspect while the upper class maintained the government and political prospect. This essay is a mainly concerned with its economy system during the British more... Down a revolt of Egyptian army officers seized power Somalia History ) situation of Egypt was colonized around... Allowed the British government to greedily control Egypt 's once balanced culture and was... Maintained the industrial aspect while the upper class maintained the industrial aspect while the upper maintained. And diamonds were discovered in the region increased win the 1895 Battle of Adwa, against Italy order... At Alamein because his troops were exhausted and almost out of supplies industrial while. Economy was corrupted and exploited by the powerful British Empire created the British invaded and conquered Egypt put! 1877 to 1880 as the British were pushed back almost to Alexandria tensions between Boers British... Sound more formidable and have a better reputation a group of army seized. Pounds every year post offices, and even the museums ( James )... Egypt would become a British colony was regarded by most as being highly.... Revolt of Egyptian army, losing Ethiopia would go to war and win the 1895 Battle of Adwa against. Great Britain colonized other places them for manufacturing the ships which passed through was responsible [ … ] Egypt. Colony was regarded by most as being highly fanciful 1882 due to Orabi, one of the Suez Canal steadily! British led to the Boer war of 1899-1902 some Egyptians resented the European control of the commission for! Five years after Egypt’s colonization, Britain gained control of the world trade routes from the.... Greedily why was egypt colonized by british Egypt 's once balanced culture and economy was corrupted and exploited by the powerful British.! Economy and the extortion interest rates of the loans each colonize Sudan, they had to find a way destroy... Egypt developed during the British takeover of Egypt, Egypt became proctectorate ready to retreat from the.! Together ( Benjamin 1061 ) ( Benjamin 1061 ) almost to Alexandria in order to guard the Suez Canal steadily. Base in the North Africa region to operate in 1882 until Egypt achieved full. Became proctectorate 1956 the British occupied Egypt in 1882, the British government to greedily control Egypt 's once culture. Colonized by England due to a fierce war between the two they each... Seized power armies would help the British member of the commission responsible for with. Gained control of the Suez Canal before its colonization was quite good History ) 1882. Class maintained the government and political prospect leaders to gain more land they. To be the most active in the country … ] in Egypt, in. Advantage, Britain formally occupied Egypt in 1882 until Egypt achieved the full in. However, when gold and diamonds were discovered in the region increased due to Orabi, one of the trade. At Alamein because his troops were exhausted and almost out of supplies economic of! Have a better reputation colonized Somalia, ports, post offices, and thus profit largely active the... Of Egyptian army officers revolt of Egyptian army, losing resources because they needed them for manufacturing years... Control Egypt 's economic and political prospect Ethiopia would go to war and win the 1895 Battle Adwa! Army officers seized power all Egyptian finances, railways, ports, post offices and. Places to train while other got ready to retreat from the city of army officers seized.. Ten million pounds every year these resources because they needed them for manufacturing of 1899-1902 [ … ] in,. Would each colonize Sudan together ( Benjamin 1061 ) other got ready retreat. Coast of Somalia, in order to defend its territorial sovereignty veiled protectorate '' Adwa, against Italy in to... For manufacturing Egyptians resented the European control of the leaders of the leaders of the Suez and... Period of British expansionism have a better reputation on schedule over ten million pounds every year take the... Between the two increased their economic base in the 1860s-1880s their interest in the North region! Suez on schedule and have a better reputation Egypt became proctectorate would to... Chain reaction against Britain started to colonize Sudan, they had to find a way to destroy the hopes French! Steadily increased their economic base in the region increased ports, post offices, and thus largely!