Publisher's Synopsis
On July 1, 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte landed in Alexandria, Egypt was in a state of suspended stagnation. But the cultural clash between West and East sparked Egypt's transformation into a modern state-and the Egyptian railways played a key role in this transformation.
Juxtaposing history, narrative, maps, art, and music, "Railways Along the Nile and the Renaissance of Modern Egypt (1798-1879)" relates the fascinating story of Egypt's rapid advancement. Looking well beyond the building of the railroads themselves, this story includes intriguing historical, social, political, economic, and artistic aspects that surrounded the development of the railways and helped shape Egypt's modern identity.
Step back to the time of the pharaohs to discover why the relationship between the Egyptian people and their leaders made the railway project successful.
Learn how nineteenth-century geographic and scientific exploration, colonization, and commerce fed foreign interest in Egypt and created the impetus for building the railway infrastructure.
Make the connection between "Egyptomania" in Europe, the Egyptian railways, and Egypt's status as the "Florida of prosperous Victorians."
Final chapters introducing exotic locomotive designs and reports by the Western press provide unique insight, making this book an invaluable resource for understanding the forces behind Egypt's emergence into the modern world.
