Egypt Dynastic chronology

As Egypt discover a 4400 year old tomb in Saqqara this last few weeks (November 2018) and named the buried person as the Royal purification priest "WAHTYE" from the reign of  king NEFER-IR-KA-RE of the fifth dynasty between year 2500-2300 BC. 

Uncovered tomb of Fifth Dynasty royal priest in Saqqara (Photo: Nevine El-Aref)

This discovery triggered my curiosity about the Egyptian dynasties (30 in total)  and gave me an incentive to learn more about my ancestors, after having investigated this amazing history, I thought of sharing some results with you. 

See below a simplified version summarizing this long history.

Original article by K. Kris Hirst

The dynastic Egypt chronology that we use to name and classify the 2,700-year long list of royal pharaohs is based on myriad sources. There are ancient history sources such as kings lists, annals, and other documents translated into Greek and Latin, archaeological studies using radiocarbon and dendrochronology, and hieroglyphic studies such as the Turin Canon, the Palermo Stone, the Pyramid and Coffin Texts.

PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

Manetho and His King's List

The primary source for the thirty established dynasties, sequences of rulers united by kinship or their principal royal residence, is the 3rd century B.C.E. Egyptian priest Manetho. His entire work included a king-list and narratives, prophecies, and royal and non-royal biographies. Written in Greek and called the Aegyptiaca (History of Egypt), Manetho's complete text has not survived, but scholars have discovered copies of the king's list and other pieces in narratives dated between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE.

Some of those narratives were used by the Jewish historian Josephus, who wrote his 1st century CE book Against Apion using borrowings, summaries, paraphrases, and recapitulations of Manetho, with specific emphasis on the  Second Intermediate Hyksos rulers. Other fragments are found in the writings of Africanus and Eusebius.

Many other documents pertaining to the royal dynasties had to wait until Egyptian hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone were translated by Jean-Francois Champollion in the early 19th century. Later in the century, historians imposed the now-familiar Old-Middle-New Kingdom structure onto Manethos' king list. The Old, Middle and New Kingdoms were periods when upper and lower parts of the Nile Valley were united; the Intermediate periods were when the union fell apart. Recent studies continue to find a more nuanced structure than that suggested by Manetho or the 19th-century historians.

Egypt Before the Pharaohs

From the Brooklyn Museum's Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, this female figurine dates to the Naqada II period of the Predynastic period, 3500-3400 BC. ego.technique

There were people in Egypt long before the pharaohs, and cultural elements of the previous periods prove that the rise of dynastic Egypt was a local evolution.

•            Paleolithic Period c. 700,000-7000 B.C.E.

•            Neolithic Period c. 8800-4700 B.C.E.

•            Predynastic Period c. 5300-3000 B.C.E.

Settlements were established beside the Nile River by Merimdeon, Tasian and Badarian. Hieroglyphs made their first appearance around the end of this period. 

Early Dynastic Egypt - Dynasties 0-2, 3200-2686 B.C.E.

A procession of the early dynastic Pharaoh Narmer is illustrated on this facsimile of the famous Narmer Palette, found at Hierakonpolis. Keith Schengili-Roberts

Dynasty 0 [3200-3000 B.C.E.] is what Egyptologists call a group of Egyptian rulers who are not on Manetho's list, definitely predate the traditional original founder of dynastic Egypt Narmer, and were found buried in a cemetery at Abydos in the 1980s. These rulers were identified as pharaohs by the presence of the nesu-bit title "King of Upper and Lower Egypt" next to their names. The earliest of these rulers is Den (c. 2900 B.C.E.) and the last is Scorpion II, known as the "Scorpion King". The 5th century B.C.E. Palermo stone also lists these rulers.

Early Dynastic Period [Dynasties 1-2, ca. 3000-2686 B.C.E.]. By about 3000 B.C.E., the Early Dynastic state had emerged in Egypt, and its rulers controlled the Nile valley from the delta to the first cataract at Aswan. The capital of this 1000 km (620 mi) stretch of the river was probably at Hierakonpolis or possibly Abydos where the rulers were buried. The first ruler was Menes or Narmer, ca. 3100 B.C.E. The administrative structures and royal tombs were built almost entirely of sun-dried mud brick, wood, and reeds, and so little remains of them.

Rulers of the First Dynasty: 
Narmer (Menes), Aha, Djer, Djet, Den, Anedjib, Semerkhe and Qaa 

Rulers of the Second Dynasty: 

Hotepsekhemwy, Raneb, Ninetjer, Seth-Peribsen, Khasekhemwy

The Old Kingdom - Dynasties 3-8, ca. 2686-2160 B.C.E.

 Step Pyramid at Saqqara. peifferc

The Old Kingdom is the name designated by 19th-century historians to refer to the first period reported by Manetho when both the north (Lower) and south (Upper) parts of the Nile Valley were united under one ruler. It is also known as the Pyramid Age, for more than a dozen pyramids were built at Giza and Saqqara. The first pharaoh of the old kingdom was Djoser (3rd dynasty, 2667-2648 B.C.E.), who built the first monumental stone structure, called the Step Pyramid.

The administrative heart of the Old Kingdom was at Memphis, where a vizier ran the central government administration. Local governors accomplished those tasks in Upper and Lower Egypt. The Old Kingdom was a long period of economic prosperity and political stability that included long distance trade with the Levant and Nubia. Beginning in the 6th dynasty, however, the central government's power began to erode with Pepys II long 93-year reign.

Dynasty III (2686 - 2575 BC):
Rulers of the Third Dynasty: Sanakhte, (2686 - 2668 BC), Zoser aka Djoser (2668 - 2649 BC), Sekhemkhet (2649 - 2643 BC), Khaba (2643 - 2637 BC), Huni (2637 - 2613 BC).

Dynasty IV (2613 - 2498 BC):
Rulers of the Fourth Dynasty: Sneferu (2613 - 2589 ), Khufu aka Cheops (2589 - 2566 BC), Radjedef (2566 - 2558 BC), Khafre aka Cheophren (2558 - 2532 BC), Menkaru aka Mycerinus (2532 - 2504 BC) and Shepseskaf (2504 - 2500 BC).

Dynasty V (2465 - 2323 BC): 
Rulers of the Fifth Dynasty: Userkef (2498 - 2491 BC), Sahure (2491 - 2477 BC), Neferirkare Kakai (2477 - 2467 BC). Shepseskare Ini (2467 - 2460 BC), Raneferef (2460 - 2453 BC), Neuserre Izi (2453 - 2422BC), Menkauhor (2422 - 2414 BC), Djedkare Isesi (2414 - 2375 BC) and Unas (2375 - 2345 BC). 

Dynasty VI (2345 - 2181 BC):
Rulers of the Sixth Dynasty: Teti (2345 - 2333 BC), Pepi I (2332 - 2283 BC), Merenre (2283 - 2278 BC) and Pepi II (2278 - 2184 BC).

First Intermediate Period - Dynasties 9-mid 11, ca. 2160-2055 B.C.E.

 First Intermediate Frieze from the Tomb of Mereri, 9th Dynasty Egypt.

Metropolitan Museum, Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898

By the beginning of the First Intermediate Period, the power base of Egypt had shifted to Herakleopolis located 100 km (62 mi) upstream from Memphis.

The large-scale building came to a halt and the provinces were ruled locally. Ultimately the central government collapsed and foreign trade stopped. The country was fragmented and unstable, with civil war and cannibalism driven by famine, and the redistribution of wealth. Texts from this period include the Coffin Texts, which were inscribed on elite coffins in multiple roomed burials.

A period about which little is known. Foreign occupation and continued internal struggle were common and rulers did not last very long.. Invaders known as the Hyksos came in 1730 BC from Asia and moved into the Delta. This period of instability lasted from 1730 to 1580 BC and was brought to an end by a Theban family, one of whom (Ahmose) finally expelled the Hyksos to start the 18th Dynasty and the rise of the New Kingdom era.

Middle Kingdom - Dynasties mid-11-14, 2055-1650 B.C.E.

Middle Kingdom coffin of Khnumankht, an unknown person from Khashaba in the early 20th century B.C.E. The Metropolitan Museum, Rogers Fund, 1915

The Middle Kingdom began with the victory of Mentuhotep II of Thebes over his rivals at Herakleopolis, and the reunification of Egypt. Monumental building construction resumed with Bab el-Hosan, a pyramid complex which followed Old Kingdom traditions, but had a mud-brick core with a grid of stone walls and finished with limestone casing blocks. This complex has not survived well.

By the 12th dynasty, the capital moved to Amemenhet Itj-tawj, which has not been found but was likely close to the Fayyum Oasis. The central administration had a vizier at the top, a treasury, and ministries for harvesting and crop management; cattle and fields; and labor for building programs. The king was still the divine absolute ruler but the government was based on a representative theocracy rather than direct rules.

The Middle Kingdom pharaohs conquered Nubia, conducted raids into the Levant, and brought back Asiatics as slaves, who eventually established themselves as a power block in the delta region and threatened the empire.

Second Intermediate Period - Dynasties 15-17, 1650-1550 B.C.E.

Second Intermediate Period Egypt, Headband from the Eastern Delta, 15th Dynasty 1648-1540 B.C.E. The Metropolitan Museum, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1968

During the Second Intermediate Period, the dynastic stability ended, the central government collapsed, and dozens of kings from different lineages reigned in quick succession. Some of the rulers were from the Asiatic colonies in the Delta region—the Hyksos.

The royal mortuary cults stopped but contacts with the Levant were maintained and more Asiatics came into Egypt. The Hyksos conquered Memphis and built their royal residence at Avaris (Tell el-Daba) in the eastern delta. The city of Avaris was enormous, with a huge citadel with vineyards and gardens. The Hyksos allied with Kushite Nubia and established extensive trade with the Aegean and Levant.

The 17th dynasty Egyptian rulers at Thebes started a "war of liberation" against the Hyksos, and eventually, the Thebans overthrew Hyksos, ushering in what 19th-century scholars called the New Kingdom.

New Kingdom - Dynasties 18-24, 1550-1069 B.C.E.

DEIR EL BARHI

Hatshepsut's Djeser-Djeseru Temple at Deir el Barhi. Yen Chung / Moment / Getty Images

The first New Kingdom ruler was Ahmose (1550-1525 B.C.E.) who drove the Hyksos out of Egypt, and established many internal reforms and political restructuring. The 18th dynasty rulers, especially Thutmosis III, conducted dozens of military campaigns in the Levant. Trade was reestablished between the Sinai peninsula and the Mediterranean, and the southern border was extended as far south as Gebel Barkal.

Egypt became prosperous and wealthy, especially under Amenophis III (1390-1352 B.C.E.), but turmoil arose when his son Akhenaten (1352-1336 B.C.E.) left Thebes, moved the capital to Akhetaten (Tell el-Amarna), and radically reformed the religion to the monotheistic Aten cult. It didn't last long. The first attempts to restore the old religion began as early as the rule of Akhenaten's son Tutankhamun (1336-1327 B.C.E.), and eventually persecution of the practitioners of the Aten cult proved successful and the old religion was re-established.

Civil officials were replaced by military personnel, and the army became the most influential domestic power in the country. At the same time, the Hittites from Mesopotamia became imperialistic and threatened Egypt. At the Battle of Qadesh, Ramses II met the Hittite troops under Muwatalli, but it ended in a stalemate, with a peace treaty.

By the end of the 13th century B.C.E., a new danger had arisen from the so-called Sea Peoples. First Merneptah (1213-1203 B.C.E.) then Ramses III (1184-1153 B.C.E.), fought and won important battles with the Sea Peoples. By the end of the New Kingdom, however, Egypt was forced to withdraw from the Levant.

Dynasty XVIII (1570 - 1293 BC): 
Rulers of the Eighteenth Dynasty: Ahmose I (1570 - 1546 BC), Amenhotep I (1551 - 1524 BC),Tuthmosis I (1524 - 1518 BC), Tuthmosis II (1528 - 1504 BC), Queen Hatshepsut (1498 - 1483 BC) Tuthmosis III (1504 - 1450 BC), Amenhotep II (1453 - 1419 BC), Tuthmosis IV (1419 - 1386 BC), Amenhotep III (1386 - 1349 BC), Amenhotep IV (Akhenaton) (1350 - 1334 BC), Smenkhkare (1336 -1334 BC), Tutankhamun (1334 -1325 BC) Ay (1325 - 1321 BC) and Horemheb (1321 - 1293 BC).

Dynasty XIX (1293 - 1185 BC):
Rulers of the Nineteenth Dynasty: Ramesses I (1291 - 1291 BC), Seti I (1291 1278 BC), Ramesses II (1279 - 1212 BC), Merneptah (1212 - 1202 BC), Amenmesses (1202 - 1199 BC), Seti II (1199 - 1193 BC), Siptah (1193 - 1187 BC) and Queen Twosret (1187 - 1185 BC).

Dynasty XX (1185 - 1070 BC): 
Rulers of the Twentieth Dynasty: Setnakhte (1185 - 1182 BC), Ramesses III (1182 - 1151 BC), Ramesses IV (1151 - 1145 BC), Ramesses V (1145 - 1141 BC), Ramesses VI (1141 - 1133 BC), Ramesses VII (1133 - 1126 BC), Ramesses VIII (1133 - 1126 BC), Ramesses IX (1126 - 1108 BC), Ramesses X (1108 - 1098 BC) and Ramesses IV (1098 - 1070 BC).

Third Intermediate Period - Dynasties 21-25, ca. 1069-664 B.C.E.

KUSH

 Capital City of the Kingdom of Kush, Meroe. Yannick Tylle . Corbiss Documentary / Getty Images

The Third Intermediate Period began with a major political upheaval, a civil war fomented by the Kushite viceroy Panehsy. Military action failed to reestablish control over Nubia, and when the last Ramessid king died in 1069 B.C.E., a new power structure was in control of the country.

Although at the surface the country was united, in reality, the north was ruled from Tanis (or perhaps Memphis) in the Nile Delta, and lower Egypt was ruled from Thebes. A formal frontier between the regions was established at Teudjoi, the entrance to the Fayyum Oasis. 

The central government at Thebes was essentially a theocracy, with supreme political authority resting with the god Amun.

Beginning in the 9th century B.C.E., numerous local rulers became virtually autonomous, and several declared themselves kings. Libyans from Cyrenaica took a dominant role, becoming kings by the second half of the 21st dynasty. Kushite rule over Egypt was established by the 25th dynasty [747-664 B.C.E.)

Late Period - Dynasties 26-31, 664-332 B.C.E.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

 Mosaic of Battle of Issus between Alexander the Great and Darius III. Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images

The Late Period in Egypt lasted between 343-332 B.C.E., a time when Egypt became a Persian satrapy. The country was reunified by Psamtek I (664-610 B.C.E.), in part because the Assyrians had weakened in their own country and could not maintain their control in Egypt. He and subsequent leaders used mercenaries from Greek, Carian, Jewish, Phoenician, and possibly Bedouin groups, that were there to guarantee Egypt's security from the Assyrians, Persians, and Chaldeans.

Egypt was invaded by the Persians in 525 B.C.E., and the first Persian ruler was Cambyses. A revolt broke out after he died, but Darius the Great was able to regain control by 518 B.C.E.and Egypt remained a Persian satrapy until 404 B.C.E.when a brief period of independence lasted until 342 B.C.E. Egypt fell under Persian rule again, that was only ended by the arrival of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.E.

Ptolemaic Period - 332-30 B.C.E.

 Taposiris Magna - Pylons of the Temple of Osiris. Roland Unger

The Ptolemaic period began with the arrival of Alexander the Great, who conquered Egypt and was crowned king in 332 B.C.E., but he left Egypt to conquer new lands. After he died in 323 B.C.E., sections of his great empire were parcelled out to various members of his military staff, and Ptolemy, the son of Alexander's marshall Lagos, acquired Egypt, Libya, and parts of Arabia. Between 301-280 B.C.E., a War of Successors broke out between the various marshalls of Alexander's conquered lands.

At the end of that, the Ptolemaic dynasties were firmly established and ruled over Egypt until the Roman conquest by Julius Caesar in 30 B.C.E..

Post-Dynastic Egypt - 30 B.C.E.-641 C.E.

 Roman Period Footcase of a Mummy with Images of Defeated Enemies Under the Feet, part of the Brooklyn Museum's exhibition of Egytpian artifacts called To Live Forever, February 12-May 2, 2010. © Brooklyn Museum

After the Ptolemaic period, Egypt's long religious and political structure ended. But the Egyptian legacy of massive monuments and a lively written history continues to fascinate us today.

•            Roman Period 30 B.C.E.-395 C.E.

•            Coptic period in the 3rd C.E.

•            Egypt ruled from Byzantium 395-641 C.E.

•            Arab Conquest of Egypt 641 C.E.

This article in it's entirety is to be found in "ThoughtCo" Lifelong learning magazine, some additions of dates and names are from my research.

Sannur Cave, Beni Suef, Egypt

LONE ACACIA TREE

After driving for hours – and seeing nothing but desert sand – you come across an acacia tree, standing completely alone, surrounded by nothingness. This tree is the only one for hundreds of kilometers; its roots go very deep, tapping into a reservoir that keeps it alive. This poetic scene is a case of beauty surviving even in the harshest of environments. Yes, you just arrived to Sannur Cave.

Formed by groundwater percolating through the earth, Sannur Cave dates back some 60 million years. And it's just a day trip from modern Cairo.

SANNUR CAVE SITE

The age of the cave is estimated at around 60 million years. To be precise, there are two chambers, one estimated at 60 million years old, the other 20 million years old. A narrow corridor, just a meter long, connects the two chambers.

It is this coupling of two formations from vastly different eras (a staggering 40 million years apart) that marks out Sannur as among the one of the rare natural spots in the world.

It doesn’t take an expert to see the remarkable difference between the two chambers. One has long-and-pointy formations sticking out every direction, like an underwater cave on a reef, while the other has uniform bubble-like formations covering every inch of its walls.

GALALA MOUNTAINS

One of the magical features of Sannur is the internal temperature. While sunny and hot outside the cave, inside it remained cool and breezy. The inner temperature hardly changes at all through the seasons.

This fact was a little difficult to comprehend, given that the cave is in the middle of Upper Egypt’s desert, with only a small hole connecting it to the outside world.

Sannur Cave Protectorate is located in the Beni-Suef governorate of Egypt and lies at 70 km southeast of the city of Beni Suef and 200 km from Cairo. The place has many geographical formations of stalactites and stalagmites as well. The reserve becomes even more important due to the natural formations present here many of which are rare and hard to find elsewhere. The reserve is filled with a large number of quarries dating back to different eras.

Discovery

NOTICE ENTRANCE TO THE RIGHT

The alabaster digging operations, which is still continued, led to the discovery of 54 big cavities that opened way to the caves and were present at the bottom of the earth. The reserve has just one chamber or cave in it. The cave here extends to an area of 700 meters and has a depth and width of 15 meters respectively. The caves contain geographical formations, which are referred as ups and downs. The most important feature of the natural formations is the quality and also the rare nature of these, which are found nowhere else on the globe. The researchers and geologists thus find this reserve very important to learn and do conductive research and studies about the environmental and other conditions that prevailed during the ancient times.

SANNUR CAVE VIEW

The Sannur Caves were discovered in the 1989s after a blasting in the quarry led to opening of an entranceway to the chamber. The cave is overlaid with alabaster that has been brought by the thermal springs and the chamber is made of limestone. The unique geography and natural formations make this place very popular and recognized as a protectorate by a decree in 1992.

Formation

STALACTITES & STALAGMITES

Sannur Cave is a classic karst cave (Karst: is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves) created by groundwater percolating through the Eocene limestone of the Galala Plateau (a mountain renowned by marble quarries). It is the best example of this type of cave in Egypt. As the water percolates downwards, excess calcium carbonates are deposited on the roof and floor of the cave forming spectacular stalactites and stalagmites of various forms. When a light is shone on them, they glitter like a wonderland. Above ground, there are deposits of the red soil (terra rossa) associated with such formations, as well as several swallow-holes (dolines or “depression”).

AMAZING COLOR FORMATION

Sannur Cave is characterized by the presence of geological formations known as Stalactites and Stalagmites in a perfect beautiful formed over millions of years, about 60 million years ago dates back to the Era of Middle Eocene. Leakage of aqueous solutions of calcium carbonate saturated through the roof of the cave and then evaporated, leaving the mineral salts that accumulated in the form of deposits of stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is important to the scarcity of such natural formations “Egyptian Alabaster” as it is of great importance for researchers, Geologists, and Caving fans.

GROUP VISIT

Stalactite and stalagmite, elongated forms of various minerals deposited from solution by slowly dripping water. A stalactite hangs like an icicle from the ceiling or sides of a cavern . A stalagmite appears like an inverted stalactite, rising from the floor of a cavern.

The Story of Sameera

World-Renowned Egyptian Nuclear Scientist

(March 3, 1917 - August 5, 1952)

It is bewildering to know that during the early 20th century, when there were the likes of Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi, there was also the phenomenal Egyptian nuclear physicist Sameera Moussa. Women in the field of science, technology, engineering and math remain largely under-represented and unacknowledged until today, which is why it is important to document those from the past and also inspire those in the present.

SAMEERA

Born in Gharbia governorate in 1917, Moussa was met with the tragic news of her mother’s death very early on, which prompted her to dedicate her life to making nuclear treatment accessible by all, hoping that it would be “as cheap as aspirin,” as she once said. Moussa spent her life volunteering at many hospitals to help treat cancer patients – a great embodiment of commitment and devotion.

Moussa went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in radiology with First Class Honors from Cairo University in 1939, after researching the effects of X-ray radiation on different materials. Following her achievement of receiving a doctorate in atomic radiation, she later became the first woman to hold the position of a lecturer and assistant professor in Cairo University.

  

In England, she made two significant contributions in physics. First, she came up with the historic equation that would break the atoms of cheap metals such as copper – a discovery that would help in making the medical applications of nuclear technology, such as X-rays, cheaper.

At a time when the Second World War was ongoing, and the events of bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were occurring, Moussa was still determined to show the world that nuclear technology should not always be dangerous. She helped organize the conference “Atomic Energy for Peace” in England, which called on governments to establish advisory councils that would regulate the industry and provide protection against safety hazards.

DR. SAMEERA MOUSSA

This was all impressively done during a period of time when knowledge of atomic development was little and only in the hands of top officials in government. A year after her conference, President Eisenhower in 1953 delivered a famous speech, “Atoms for Peace”, to the UN General Assembly. It was the first time that the topic of atomic energy was publicly mentioned, and it aimed to spread the idea that “atomic dilemma” could be solved by finding ways to make it a contributor in saving people’s lives.

“The United States pledges before you – and therefore before the world its determination to help solve the fearful atomic dilemma – to devote its entire heart and mind to find the way by which the miraculous inventiveness of man shall not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life,” he said.

This speech created the ideological background for important organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which both aim to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and achieve nuclear disarmament around the world.

Moussa’s work was recognized as she was awarded the prestigious and competitive Fulbright scholarship that gave her the opportunity to travel to the United States and study in California. Remarkably, she was given permission to visit top secret US atomic facilities and was the first non-US person to ever do so.

There were several offers given to her to acquire the American citizenship and live in the United States, yet she turned them down after saying “Egypt, my dear homeland, is waiting for me”.

On August 5, 1952 after her first visit to America she intended to return home, but she was invited on a trip. On the way, the car fell from a height of 40 feet, which killed her immediately. The mystery of the accident, since the invitation to California was shown to be untrue later on, besides the vanishing of the car driver who jumped from the car just before it rushed down, made some people believe it was a planned assassination. It is alleged that the Israeli Mossad was behind Moussa's murder.

A year later in 1953, the Egyptian Army honored her and she was awarded the Order of Merit for Science and Art, First Class. A school and a laboratory in her home village were also named after her.

Nonetheless, the doors remain open for new Egyptian female scientists to take over and make momentous changes for their country and the world.

Article by: MIRNA ABDULAAL

Egyptian Streets News 

The History behind Egyptian Cotton

      Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the "genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae”. The fibre is almost pure cellulose. 

COTTON PLANT

The plant is a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, Africa, Egypt and India. The greatest diversity of wild cotton species is found in Mexico, followed by Australia and Africa. Cotton was independently domesticated in the Old and New Worlds.

COTTON HARVEST

The fibre is most often spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile. The use of cotton for fabric is known to date to prehistoric times; fragments of cotton fabric dated to the fifth millennium BC have been found in the Indus Valley Civilization. Although cultivated since antiquity, it was the invention of the cotton gin (a machine that separate the cotton from the seed) that lowered the cost of production that in turn led to its widespread use, and it is the most widely used natural fibre cloth in clothing today.

COTTON FEILDS

Current estimates for world production are about 25 million tones or 110 million bales annually, accounting for 2.5% of the world's arable land. China is the world's largest producer of cotton, but most of this is used domestically. The United States has been the largest exporter for many years.

The earliest evidence of cotton use in the Indian subcontinent has been found at the site of Mehrgarh and Rakhigarhi where cotton threads have been found preserved in copper beads; these finds have been dated to the Neolithic (5th millennium BC). Cotton cultivation in the region is dated to the Indus Valley Civilization, which covered parts of modern eastern Pakistan and northwestern India between 3300 and 1300 BC. The Indus cotton industry was well-developed and some methods used in cotton spinning and fabrication continued to be used until the industrialization of India. Between 2000 and 1000 BC cotton became widespread across much of India. For example, it has been found at the site of Hallus in Karnataka dating from around 1000 BC.

OLD MAN SPINNING COTTON

LONG FIBRE
EGYPTIAN COTTON

For thousands of years cotton has grown in Egypt yet they used flax to create linen.

They would turn almost ripe stems into yarn after soaking them in water for around a week. Then they would carefully separate the fibres and by using a spinning tool they would expertly twist and spin the fibres into yarns then weave them into fabric on a loom. Back in the early 1800s a guy named Jumel from France persuaded Egypt’s head of state Muhammad Ali to sample a piece of cotton he had named Maho an extra-long cotton staple. 

Muhammad Ali was so impressed he made him a plantation manager and then built up his cotton crops and spread them all over the Delta region of the River Nile. 

HARVESTING COTTON

He dominated the cotton business and started selling his crops for a set price annually. This gave a huge boost to the economy and also sparked interest from Europe. Muhammad Ali continued to dominate the industry and developed Egypt into a cotton colony connecting with the textile industry in Europe.  Egypt under Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century had the fifth most productive cotton industry in the world, in terms of the number of spindles per capita which brought huge profits for Egypt.

Chourbagy & Aboud are some of the big names associated with the cotton industry when the industry of cotton was flourishing in El-Mahala El-Kobra and Zakazik.

COTTON SOLD LOCALY BY THE POUND

After Muhammad Ali passed away the next generation of heads of state used the cotton success and started to get loans from some banks in Europe. They wanted to modernize the production of cotton so they could increase the exports. These loans had high interest rates but because of the vast amount of cotton being produced Egypt could manage the debt. This revolutionized Egypt in to a modern country that became knowledgeable in credit systems.

COTTON PLANTATION

Unfortunately the American civil war cut off Europe from their cotton exports and so in Egypt the prices went crazy and in the space of just two years the price rose to many folds, Egyptian exports reached 1.2 million bales a year by 1903.. Muhammad Ali’s grandson Ismail decided to do something and so he looked to develop a part of Cairo into a city like Paris which he did and later was called ‘Paris on the Nile’ he also build the Suez Canal which became a valuable resource for Egypt. But once the war ended America started exporting cotton back to Europe which was a disaster for the cotton industry in Egypt.

MAHALA MODERN TEXTILE FATORY

SPINNING FACTORY

Finally when France and England forced Ismail to abdicate in 1879 they ruled Egypt and turned it into a colony. They gained control of the Egyptian cotton industry right through until Egypt gained independence.

Many will remember the famous "Linon" an Egyptian cotton made into a fabric in Switzerland and made to measure for fancy dress shirts at tailors like Swelam in Cairo.  

Today raw or manufactured cotton is still one of Egypt’s major exports!

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