Abstract: Glenn E. Perry. The History of Egypt. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2004. The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, xxiii + 184 pp. Timeline. Glossary. Bibliographic Essay. Index. $45.00. Cloth. Typical of the Greenwood series on modern nations, this work begins a chapter on current conditions, followed by the country's known history. In the case of Egypt, it takes the reader back to the fourth millennium B.c. and beyond. With a timeline of significant events, an epilogue, a listing of important people, a glossary, and a lengthy bibliographic essay, only 144 pages of text remain on Egypt, written by Glenn Perry, a political scientist. While this reviewer lacks the expertise to critique the specific content of the chapter on ancient Egypt, it appears to be, like the subsequent chapter on the classical period through the French invasion, a flurry of leaders, dynasties, and invasions without a theoretical engine to drive the narrative. Most of the significant information on pre-Islamic would have been better placed within the section on the Islamic period or in explanatory footnotes. The specialist will find these chapters mundane, while the novice will be thoroughly confused by statements such as: some overlords undoubtedly were arbitrary or oppressive, this did not belie the usage rights of the peasantry to miri land. Much the same is true of another pattern that prevailed in during the Ottoman period (unlike the iqta in other parts of the empire), whereby land was allotted as 'tax farms' (iltizam, literally 'concession') (42). Perry displays his knowledge of more recent historiography but refuses to support, refute, or critique the various positions. For example, true to the modernization paradigm, he relates that awoke to new realities after the French invasion, which he claims was precipitated by France's desire for a road to India (56). But then he states, Some argue that the motive was to gain commercial advantage in itself, where the British and the French already were competing for trade (56), without examing the topic further or resolving the disagreement. His view of Muhammad Ali and his successors is rather static, as is his explanation of nineteenth-century events. His discussion of the conquest and uprisings within the Sudan, as well as Egypt's role in slavery (and abolition) would have been enhanced by the work of Eve Troutt Powell (A Different Shade of Colonialism [2003]), and his treatment of the royal family, by the memoirs of Abbas Hilmi II and Prince Hassan Hassan. The chapter titled Liberal Egypt is one of the better chapters in the book. Although many of the topics could have used a bit more clarification, Perry skillfully covers the 1919 Revolution, the creation of a new political order, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, Egypt's struggle to industrialize, the rise of extremists on the right and left, World War II, and the role of the Palestinian struggle in bringing into the pan-Arab fold. The chapter ends on a confusing note as he describes the events of 1952, including the rotation of the post of prime minister from Nahhas to Mahir to Hilali to Sirri and back to Hilali again, without an introduction to any of the men except for Nahhas. A reference to or reproduction of political cartoons from popular magazines of the era (e.g., RUL al-Yusifor al-Ithnayn walDunya) would have helped to convey meaning to the reader. Given Perry's expertise and the series' focus on recent events, I anticipated increasing quality each chapter. Nevertheless, I found the chapter on the Nasser era extremely disappointing. Perry lacks an understanding of the delicate nature of Egyptian-American relations in the 1950s. He would do well to read Jon Alterman's and American Foreign Assistance (2002) or any of the more recent works on the Eisenhower Doctrine and its application (and nonapplication) in the Middle East. While he cautions the reader to take Copeland's Game of Nations (1969) with a grain of salt, Perry would do well to read Wilbur Eveland's Ropes of Sand (1980), which supports many of Copeland's claims and makes sense out of the struggle for Syria. …
Publication Year: 2005
Publication Date: 2005-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
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