First Contact

Egypt is in the prime geographic location within Africa for contact with not only the countries it borders but also the continents and land that lies beyond African borders. These borders allowed for Egypt to have contact with non-African people a lot earlier than most of its surrounding brethren. Contact with both Asian and European groups since the early fourth century. The contact from outside countries did not originate for trade or natural resources, it originate for expansion both politically and religiously.

European contact originated in 332 BC, the ruler of Macedonia Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and expanded the Hellenistic empire to stretch across Egypt. Egypt had been under self-rule for 3,000 years and had always been independent but during a spurt of weak pharaohs, Alexander the Great was able to take over and deem the first non-Egyptian pharaoh, Ptolemy I Soter. Although the contact with Europe spread in a lot of Greek culture to win over the Egyptians they named themselves pharaohs and even portrayed themselves in public monuments in Egyptian style and dress. This Ptolemaic rule extended through Cleopatra VII died shortly after the death of her lover Mark Antony, after her death the native Egyptian rebelled and this rebellion led to the decline of Ptolemaic Egypt and it was shortly followed by the annexation by Rome.

Asian contact with Egypt was not too different from the Greek and Roman spread into the borders, this time however it was to purposely spread the Muslim beliefs. In 641 AD the Muslims began to cross into the Arabian peninsula and pushed even further into the Egyptian borders. The Muslims wanted to have the territory not for political rule but for Islam. This contact from Asia has held very strong in Egypt, most Egyptians are Muslim and this is with thanks due to the conquest in 641 AD.

Although Egypt has seen many types of people pass through the doors it has shaped the country into its modern religious beliefs, style, and society. Many of the style and society structure that we see today in Egypt is thanks to the Hellenistic Empire which includes the portion of Christian people within its borders, the Asian conquest held a strong influence on the religious lifestyle that holds steady in Egypt.

Sources:

Reader, John. Africa: a biography of the continent. New York: Vintage, 1999

Quirke, Stephen. Exploring religion in ancient Egypt. Malden, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015.