The Nile valley, 1882-98

Question 1

Egypt under Ottoman Control since…

Answer 1

1517

Question 2

The Ottoman Empire was also known as…

Answer 2

“the sick man of Europe”

Question 3

Why was the Ottoman Empire known as “the sick man of Europe”?

Answer 3

Ottoman Empire deteriorating

Question 4

Why is the fact that the Ottoman Empire was deteriorating significant?

Answer 4

It leaves room for other foreign powers to assert their influence in the area, such as France and Britain

Question 5

The Nile was the source of…

Answer 5

Egypt’s wealth (it is vital to agriculture, trade and business)

Question 6

When was the Suez Canal built?

Answer 6

1869

Question 7

Why does Britain have a financial stake in Egypt?

Answer 7

PM Disraeli purchased 44% shares of Suez Canal in 1875

Question 8

PM Disraeli Suez Canal strategic quote

Answer 8

“The highway to our Indian empire”

Question 9

What is the Suez Canal vital for?

Answer 9

• trade
• shipping
• geopolitical advantage (over other foreign powers)

Question 10

Suez Canal:
__% of passing cargo on British ships

Answer 10

80

Question 11

Ottoman Empire was fading away which left a…

Answer 11

Power vacuum

Question 12

The French are the main _____________

Answer 12

shareholders

Question 13

Financial reasons for intervention in Egypt

Answer 13

Egypt bankrupt 1876 with debts of over 100 million

Bond holders vulnerable

37% Gladstone personal fortune invested in Egyptian loans - vested interests (a view taken by revisionist historians)

5% of total British exports to Egypt

Question 14

Vested interests

Answer 14

A personal reason for involvement in an undertaking or situation (usually financial in nature)

Question 15

Altruistic reasons for intervention in Egypt

Answer 15

Alexandria 1/5 European

11th June 1882 - tensions escalated into anti-christian riots

50 Europeans killed, 250 Egyptians killed

Question 16

When did the British set sail for Alexandria?

Answer 16

20th May 1882

Question 17

What was the public reason for British intervention?

Answer 17

Altruistic reasons were the pretense that the British used in order to justify their intervention

Question 18

Why was Arabi Pasha mad?

Answer 18

The dual control that the British and the French set up in 1878 where they shared financial control of the area providing loans to the khedive but with stringent conditions (including economic reforms, salary cuts and imposition of taxes)

Question 19

What was Arabi Pasha part of?

Answer 19

A nationalist cabinet with him at its core filled with his supporters

Question 20

Arabi Pasha quote

Answer 20

Egypt for Egyptians

Question 21

What did Arabi Pasha become in Jan 1882?

Answer 21

The minister of War (shows his growing influence and shows that he is more of a threat as he is holding more dominance over the khedive)

Question 22

“Gambetta Note” Jan 1882

Answer 22

A warning that the Khedive’s authority should be preserved - a prelude to military intervention (a warning)

Question 23

Long-term factors for the invasion of Egypt

Answer 23

• Strategic importance
• Financial interests
• Trade

Question 24

Short-term factors for the invasion of Egypt

Answer 24

• Riots in Alexandria
• Arabi Pasha and nationalism

Question 25

Broken promises of leaving __ times in __ years

Answer 25

66 32

Question 26

The British had dominance in...

Answer 26

the administration of Egypt

Question 27

The character of Sir Evelyn Baring

Answer 27

Paternalistic Patriotic Imperialist ("classical example of a late Victorian imperialist") Self-assured

Question 28

How did Sir Evelyn Baring view native Egyptians?

Answer 28

Inferior

Question 29

The aims of Sir Evelyn Baring

Answer 29

- fundamental changes in agricultural infrastructure - reform administrative system and implement financial controls - secure British financial footing for British interests

Question 30

Baring focused on agriculture - what shows this?

Answer 30

8% government revenue on agriculture Spent £1 million on irrigation

Question 31

The successes of Baring were highly limited by...

Answer 31

funding problems - Baring had to deal with the financial instability in Egypt which meant that more money went towards debt than funding his agricultural reform (50% of tax revenue spent on debt repayments)

Question 32

When did Baring achieve solvency?

Answer 32

1887

Question 33

Baring believed that if Egyptians developed too much intellectually, this would destabilise society - in what reforms is this prevalent?

Answer 33

Refused to fund secondary education Raised tuition fees in primary schools

Question 34

The Egyptian peasant class is known as...

Answer 34

Fellahin, singular Fellah

Question 35

Why were the Fellahin upset with Baring's reforms?

Answer 35

Limits to class mobility Higher tax burden than large landowners (he alienated the peasant classes which led to rising nationalist sentiment)