Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Monday, May 14, 2007

Hosam's Visit!

Hosam's visit was informative, comfortable and fun. I thought that we created a relaxing setting in which Hosam could share what he knew and then answer some of our questions. He also brought his beautiful wife and shared stories of his courtship with her- very entertaining! She was dressed in gorgeous traditional clothing which suggests that she is still very bound to the Egyptian culture. Hosam attends UH and wants to have a career in education. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT HOSAM

Egyptian Music

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EGYPTIAN MUSIC

Background and History of Egypt

Ancient Egypt and The Nile:

- The Ancient Egyptian civilization flourished for 3,000 years.
- Egyptian history begins around 3300 BC. The pharaoh, King Menes, created Egypt by uniting the two parts of Egypt - Memphis in the north and Abydos in the south into a single Kingdom.
- The civilization's ability to prosper and flourish is undoubtedly due to the Nile which they used for water, food and transportation.





Influences from foreign rule(2,400 years total):

Assyrians
Persians
Greeks
Romans
Byzantines
Arabs
Turks
French
British.


Modern History





QUICK FACTS OVER THE COUNTRY:

Egypt covers 95,450 sq km
Egypt controls the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal
More than 76 million people live in Egypt. Life expectancy is around 70 years.
Literacy rate is 68% for men and only 47% for women.
Religion- Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%.


DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH U.S.:

- After Camp David Accords in 1975, U.S. and Egypt have become allies (issues ranging from conflict management, conflict participation, military aid and economic aid)
- Egypt's extremely strategic location - by the Red Sea and Suez Canal- enables America to have a strategically advantegous access to important waterways.
- the U.S. has invested $3.5 billion in Egypt (the majority of that into oil and natural gas)