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Test is Monday March 7th on Egypt

More Notes:

Egypt's Economy:

• Tourism
• oil, natural gas, manufacturing
• agriculture - making the most of their limited arable land (3%)
• cotton, corn, rice, wheat, fava beans
• the old pattern of dealing with the Nile peret (drought) and shomu (flood) has been changed since the 1970 building in the Aswan High Dam
• the dam controls the flooding of the Nile, and increases the amount of reclaimed land

Egypt's Demographic

• 79 million people - biggest population of Middle Eastern nations
• third biggest African country
• Cairo: 6.7 million
• NYC: 8.3 million
• Official language: Arabic  (English, French, and German are also taught to some)
• Religion: around 90% Muslim, most of the rest are Christian (Coptic), but there are major conflicts (Egypt is 12th in religious violence, 5th worst for religious freedom)

Egypt's  Politics, Government, Revolution:

• 1922 - end of protectorate with the United Kingdom
• 1953 - Egypt declared a Republic
• 1954-1970 - ruled by Gamal Nasser
• nationalizes the Suez Canal
• forms allegiance with Soviet Union
• 1970-1981 - ruled by Anwar Sadar
• switches allegiance to the United States
• attacked Israel over Sinai Peninsula, but later made peace
• Sadat assassinated in 1981
• 1981-2011 - ruled by Hosni Mubarak
• kept alliance w/ U.S (helped with the Iraq war)
• accused of corruption, political persecution, human rights violations
• driven from office following mass demonstrations last month

What's next for Egypt? Who knows?

• Egypt currently ruled by military junta, but democratic elections scheduled for September 2011
• Some what Mubarak arrested and tried for embezzling from the government. Our friend, Sarah & other Egyptians say he may have stolen $50-70 BILLION (other sources say more like $5 billion - still a huge amount)
• Revolution is in the air (to varying degrees) throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa:
• Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Libya 
• Libya has been ruled by Muammar Gaddafi since 1969
• he is violently opposing Libya's uprising
• Libya may descend into full civil war
• the east  is controlled by rebels, but he still holds the record for the longest leader