In the early 19th century, Egypt connected two vast regions: the Ottoman Empire (奥斯曼帝国) and the African continent. For centuries, the Ottoman Empire had been at the center of Eurasian trade. It had also been a major center of manufacturing which produced handmade goods for Europe and Africa.
However, the industrialization of Europe meant that cheaper goods made by machines soon flooded into the Ottoman Empire. The result of this competition was that Africa was increasingly seen as a place that provided new materials for European factories, rather than one that had factories of its own.
Egypt was an African country that was technically part of the Ottoman Empire. It was first invaded by the French army. With British help, the Ottoman forces drove the French out of Egypt. Following this, Muhammad Ali successfully brought about Egyptian independence from the Ottoman Empire. By 1831, he was effectively an independent ruler of a more modern Egypt.
Egypt was already a small-scale producer of cotton, which was sold to Britain. Ali encouraged even more cotton production nationwide. With the money from this cotton production, Ali’s government began to aid factories so that the country could profit from its own industrialization. By the late 1840s, it looked like Egypt would eventually become an industrial power.
During the following years, Egypt’s economy stagnated and slowly slid into decline. The factories ceased production, and by the 1880s, it had to seek help from Britain financially. Though Egypt remained formally independent, it seemed to be more like a British colony.
Europeans kept interfering in Egypt partly because of the Suez Canal. Egypt’s new leaders were already stressful because of the industrial collapse that left their country unable to repay the money borrowed from Britain. Finally, in 1875, the king sold his share in the Suez Canal Company to the British, giving them control of this important national resource. The powerful British took advantage of this instability and seized the country.
【小题1】For Africa, what was the result of the industrialization of Europe?| A．The new factories began to spring up in Africa. |
| B．The prices of the goods became higher in Africa. |
| C．Africa was reduced to material suppliers gradually. |
| D．Handmade goods became popular in Europe and Africa. |
| A．recovered | B．bounced | C．ruined | D．stopped |
① French invaded Egypt. ② The Ottoman Empire ruled Egypt.
③ Britain seized Egypt. ④ Egypt gained independence.
| A．①③②④ | B．①②④③ | C．②①③④ | D．②①④③ |
| A．The Suez Canal was the main contributing cause of all disputes. |
| B．Egypt enjoyed booming development and underwent social unrest. |
| C．Egyptians were so brave as not to obey the rulers of other countries. |
| D．Egypt lived up to the status—one of the Great Ancient Civilizations. |
