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check out more places in egypt...
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cairo: general info
· city links
· history
· itinerary
things to do
· hostels
· tours
· read reviews
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Two thousand years ago, the Romans occupied the land currently known as Cairo,
then called Babylon (Arabic translation: "The Victorious"). Six hundred years later, Arab commander Amr ibn al-As brought
Islam to Egypt, and Cairo evolved out of his settlement. This is a surprise to many who
assume that Cairo's close proximity to the Pyramids signifies its part in ancient Egyptian history.
Up until the mid-1800s, Cairo remained a medieval city, until European-educated leader Ismail began to make over the city.
Starting in 1863, the marshes that were flooded each year by the monsoons were built over by world-renowned architects under
Ismail's watchful eye.
Following the elaborate 1869 celebration of the completion of the nearby Suez Canal - connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas -
tourism exploded in the region. However, Ismail's dramatic spending on Egypt's development wreaked havoc on the entire country's
future, since shortly after he was removed from leadership, Britain took control of the country until the debts could be repaid.
In 1882 a British protectorate was formed, and military occupation transformed Cairo into a colonial enclave. Following World War I,
the British protectorate came to an end and a new Kingdom was formed, though it was it still was under British influence. That all
changed in 1952, when a revolution led by Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser of the Free Officers took place. The monarchy was brought down,
and Nasser himself served as prime minister, then president, until 1970. Anwar Sadat became president following Nasser's death, and by then, Cairo's population had grown exponentially, causing both
severe overcrowding and high levels of pollution.
Since that time, there have been few developments made in the city's infrastructure in support of the still growing population, but
Egypt's rich and vibrant history continues to draw tourists and archaeology buffs to Cairo and the Great Pyramids, located just south
of the city.
If you know of a great destination we're missing,
review it for us!!
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
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