Egypt

From Turtledove

The Arab Republic of Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.

Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its people live near the banks of the Nile River. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.

Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments. Tourism has helped Egypt to become one of the most developed economies in the Middle East.

After the fall of its own long-lived empire, Egypt fell to a series of foreign rules, including Persia, Macedonia, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and finally the Ottoman Empire. The invasion by France in 1798 helped spark an independence movement that, after some strife, saw de facto independence in 1805 under a hereditary monarchy. This monarchy ruled until 1952.

However, Britain asserted influence in Egypt beginning in 1882. Years of strife led to Egyptian independence in 1922, although Britain maintained a presence in the country throughout World War II. In 1952, the fall of the monarchy insured Egypt's complete self-governance.

[edit] Egypt in In the Presence of Mine Enemies

Egypt was divided between the Greater German Reich and the Italian Empire. The Nazis and the Italians genocided the "inferior" native Arab and Egyptian populations. Surviving pockets were used as slave labor.

[edit] Egypt in "Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire"

Egypt was a province of the Byzantine Empire.

[edit] Egypt in Worldwar

The Race chose Cairo, Egypt as its capital on Tosev 3 because of the country's hot, arid climate and strategic location. The majority of the population practiced Islam, and the region was not considered a pacified colony.

Cairo was the scene of the peace agreement between the Race and the Big Five Earth powers.