Egypt : a country study

480 Pages·2013·30.95 MB·English

area handbook series
Egypt
a country study
s

Egypt
a country study
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Edited by
Helen Chapin Metz
Research Completed
December 1990
On the cover: A representation of Tutankhamen (1347-
1337 B.C.), pharaoh of the New Kingdom, on his throne
Fifth Edition, First Printing, 1991.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Egypt: a country study / Federal Research Div—ision, Library of
Congress ; edi—ted by Helen Chapin Metz. 5th ed.
p. cm. (Area handbook series, ISSN 1057-5294) (DA
pam 550-43)
;
Previous ed. has statement of responsibility: Foreign Area
Studies, the American University edited by Richard F. Nyrop.
:
"Research completed December 1990."
Includes bibiliography (pp. 369-391) and index.
ISBN 0-8444-0729-1
1. Egypt. I. Metz, Helen Chapin, 1928- . II. Library of
Congress. Federal Research Division. III. Series. IV. Series:
DA pam 550-43.
;
DT46.E32 1991 91-29876
962—dc20 CIP
Headquarters, Department of the Army
DA Pam 550-43
ForsalebytheSuperintendentofDocuments, U.S. GovernmentPrintingOffice
Washington,D.C. 20402
Foreword
This volume is one in a continuing series ofbooks prepared by
the Federal Research Division ofthe Library of Congress under
—
the Country Studies Area Handbook Program sponsored by the
Department ofthe Army. The last page ofthis booklists the other
published studies.
Most books in the series deal with a particular foreign country,
describing and analyzingits political, economic, social, and national
security systems and institutions, and examiningthe interrelation-
ships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural
factors. Each study iswritten by a multidisciplinary team ofsocial
scientists. The authors seek to provide a basic understanding of
the observed society, striving for a dynamic rather than a static
portrayal. Particular attention is devoted to the people who make
upthe society, theirorigins, dominantbeliefs andvalues, theircom-
mon interests and the issues on which they are divided, the nature
andextent oftheirinvolvementwithnationalinstitutions, andtheir
attitudes toward each other and toward their social system and
political order.
The books represent the analysis ofthe authors and should not
be construed as an expression ofan official United States govern-
ment position, policy, or decision. The authors have sought to
adhere to accepted standards ofscholarlyobjectivity. Corrections,
additions, and suggestions for changes from readers will be wel-
comed for use in future editions.
Louis R. Mortimer
Chief
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540
iii

Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions ofthe writers
of the 1983 edition of Egypt: A Country Study, edited by Richard
F. Nyrop. Theirworkprovided generalbackground forthe present
volume.
The authors are grateful to individuals in various government
agencies and private institutions who gave oftheir time, research
materials, and expertise in the production ofthis book. These in-
dividuals included Ralph K. Benesch, who oversees the Country
—
Studies Area Handbookprogram forthe DepartmentoftheArmy.
The authors also wish to thank members ofthe Federal Research
Division staff who contributed directly to the preparation of the
manuscript. These people included Thomas Collelo, the substan-
tive reviewer of all the graphic and textual material; Sandra W.
Meditz, who reviewed all drafts and served asliaison with the spon-
soring agency; and Martha E. Hopkins and Marilyn Majeska, who
managed editing and book production.
Also involved in preparingthe text were editorial assistants Bar-
bara Edgerton and IzellaWatson; Richard Kollodge andRuth Nie-
land, who edited chapters; Beverly Wolpert, who performed the
prepublication editorial review; andJoan C. Cook, who compiled
the index. Linda Peterson of the Library of Congress Compos-
ing Unit prepared the camera-ready copy under the supervision
of Peggy Pixley.
Graphics were prepared by David P. Cabitto, and Timothy L.
Merrill reviewed map drafts. David P. Cabitto and Greenhorne
and O'Mara prepared the final maps. Special thanks are owed to
Marty Ittner, who prepared the illustrations on the title page of
each chapter, and David P. Cabitto, who did the cover art.
The authors would like to thank Ly H. Burnham, who assisted
with demographic data. Finally, the authors acknowledge the
generosity ofthe many individuals and public and private agen-
cies, especially the Press and Information Bureau of the Arab
Republic of Egypt, who allowed their photographs to be used in
this study.