The Turks in Egypt and their Cultural Legacy

摘要

A distinguished historian of science and an internationally known public figure, Ehmeleddin Ihsanoglu is also an expert on the history of the Ottoman Empire and its cultural influence. In this well-researched and engaging book he shows how Turkish culture was alive and well throughout most of the nineteenth century in Egypt. It will come as a surprise to some that Turkish influence actually grew rather than contracted, and reached a much higher level than at the time when Egypt was under direct Ottoman rule. Prior to the 19th century Turkish was not commonly used as the language of education although Turkish was taught in many Egyptian schools and in several technical institutions. It was used in the Army, and both Arabic and Turkish were used in the administration. Although Turkish culture centred on the governor, or khedive, and the palace, it had an impact on the local bourgeoisie, and came with time to influence students of the modern local schools, who hailed from a variety of classes.