Egypt Modernization Analysis

Egypt and Modernization Modernization in Egypt was a little different than in many other civilizations. Egypt wasn’t its own nation, but rather, it was a part of the Ottoman Empire, ruled by the Sultan of Istanbul. The rise of Egypt’s modernization began with the firman, or decree, of Albanian Muhammad Ali as Pasha of Egypt. (Thompson, p.224) He made many changes to Egypt that would progress their modernization, such as creating a vaccination program, building hospitals and schools, including one with a women and children’s wards. However, none of these progressions would have been possible, particularly the advancement of women’s roles into the national discourse, without the development of his Army and Navy and his desire to expand his …show more content…
Scientific Child Rearing took the previous trend of making fathers responsible for moral and religious training, and handed it over to the mothers. The option of using servants, relatives or nurse maids as their primary care takers was no longer afforded them. Instead, “mothers were personally entrusted with the physical, moral and intellectual development of their children, with the goal of turning out productive members of society. “ (Shakry, p. 126) However, woman were thought to be ignorant, backward and unsuited for the responsibility of shaping the future population. For example, mothers were thought to be responsible for the high rate of infant mortality due to their ignorance on matters of health and hygiene. Earl of Cromer elaborates, “The position of women in Egypt is an obstacle to the attainment of the elevation of thought and character which should accompany the introduction of European civilization, if that civilization is to produce its full measure of beneficial effect. The obvious remedy would appear to be to educate the women.” (Shakry, p. 129) Shakry introduces us to the idea that the future of the Egyptian nation is wholly in the hands of women, or more specifically, mothers. Thus women need to be enlightened for the progress to move …show more content…
In response to the questions raised by scientific child rearing, girls began being educated in schools on the importance of health and hygiene to prepare them for motherhood. Similarly, in Thompson’s accounts of modernizing Egypt, women needed to be educated in the ways of health and hygiene in order to keep the population healthy. This practice would ensure future generations of soldiers to occupy the ranks. Both accounts credit the future of the society as a whole to be dependent on the education of