Significance of Mehmet Ali - Essay Example

Significance of Mehmet Ali Ottoman Empire had been ruling Egypt for a considerable time before Mehmet Ali took part in various wars against the emperor ruling over different segments of Egypt. He ruled over Egypt along with Sudan and Levantine territories. Looking to the overall history of Egypt, Mehmet Ali comes out as the most proficient of all leaders that has ruled Egypt after the development of Egyptian civilization. During nineteenth century if Egypt had been developed into a nation that reflects over the world-politics and claims for its importance in international society, it is very much due to Mehmet Ali who came up with a number of policies for reformations in Egyptian art, culture, architecture, social and political scenario (Dobrovoslka & Fahemy, 2004, p.5). Most important decisions that Mehmet Ali took, were regarding the reformation of Egyptian society based on European patterns. He brought up the idea of Bureaucracy which separated Egyptian social system from the earlier patterns where Kings were very much the final authorities and every smaller decision would make sure that it takes place according to the pattern that would have pleased the king. Although, Mehmet Ali’s pattern of Society was not like a democratic system yet it made the state very powerful as it almost bound producers to sell the entire outcome to the state that will take care of reselling. Such authority of State helped Egypt to develop faster because Khedive himself would take care of revenues contrasting to modern communist systems where State is provided with power but restricts liberal policies for traders outside the state. This system turned Egyptian society and politics into a self-regulating society which paid very much for the future development in economy and army. On the other hand, Mehmet Ali also rebuilt the army structure based on different segments controlled by separate department united as whole army under Khedive. It was more structured pattern compared of any military system Egypt has seen before. Consequently, Mehmet Ali also succeeded in ruling a bigger land that any earlier king of Egypt could manage to. Mehmet Ali had been a successful emperor for a long time, succeeding to establish his dynasty to work for future and to take Egypt towards the upcoming new era of modernism (Vatikiotis, 1991, p.70). Even after such a long rule over Egypt, Mehmet Ali was considered as a Turk by a number of natives. Further, progression of revolutions had been paid by this fact on large amount. Another charge revolutionaries had against Mehmet Ali’s dynasty was about their conceiving the state in limited bureaucratic structures providing no liberty for producers. However, as this fact comes up as a truth during modern society, it has paid much in Egypt’s development in earlier times. Still when it did not fit into a changed world prone to democracies, Egypt also demanded liberty and further Mehmet Ali’s dynasty led to its terminal with the revolution. Portrait of Omai- By Sir Joshua Reynolds One of the cult figures of simultaneous time of painting art is the portrait of Omai by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It holds significance as an artifact as well as a representation of Egyptian culture to the western civilization. Joshua Reynolds is known wildly among the most recognized landscape painter. In his portrait of Omai, he has used an authorized technique of expression which comes out as one of his greatest portraits. Reynolds has painted certain number of portraits of Omai which are considered on different aspects. However, best knows of his portraits of Omai is the one that was shows at Royal Academy at 1776. It has achieved a cult status in Landscape painting. Some earlier portraits painted by Reynolds are considered previous attempt as appears that Reynolds himself was not satisfied with the outcome and wanted to make it grand. (Connaughton, 2005) Specific importance of Omai is as an encounter between East and west. It is the background of Omai’s visit to London. As a miraculous personality and a perfect gentleman Omai has left a very significant impression over British minds. What Joshua Reynolds has done in his portrait is to present this magical figure with the power of invisible aura that Omai had brought with him. Omai is considered as most proficient of eastern emissary in a western world. It is noticeable that the event took place at a time when most of eastern countries and religion were thoroughly looked down by self-proclaimed royal British natives who could quite easily undermine a visitor from east. Still, powerful presence of Omai and his gentleness somehow exceeded over the British mannerism in their own field. Omai has also prepared to come up as representations of his native land. His whole personality and appearance spoke of this fact that he represents a civilization which stands on its own root (Sofaer, 2007). As British art-lovers took this portrait in their immediate attention and praised Reynolds’ genius for depiction of Omai in the portrait. It became a very significant piece of art representing Omai’s presence in western world (Auckland, 1977). Further, when Western Civilization came to face the power of Eastern world, and as the modernism grew among eastern countries, visit of Omai became significantly impressed in all western minds to renew their orthodox opinions towards East. Why did Egypt exert such a powerful influence on the Western imagination in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? Introduction Considered always as a representative land of eastern ancient civilization, Egypt has been treated widely as an alluring phenomenon. However, on the other hand, Egypt had always been a far away country and a mystic place for western civilization. Over a long period of history before the seventeenth century, Egypt was almost a land of aliens for westerns. Moreover, Egypt has seen probably largest variations of empires coming and mixing with Egyptian culture. Most number of religions has been found in numerous times in Egypt. Moreover, Egypt was somehow connected to the initial developments of all religions including Islam and Christianity. Due to a very rich and deeply rooted culture, very unique and mystic art, architecture, music and scientific methodology Egypt has always succeeded in acquiring a very special place within world. As far as East is concerned Egypt is a pioneer for eastern religions and society. Almost all the civilizations of east have their roots in or connected to Egypt. Development of Chemistry, mathematics, linguistic, society, government and design infrastructure is due to contemporary Egyptians. All over the eastern civilizations Egypt is having a significant base culture layered under modern developments. Subsequently, eastern civilizations too understand and regard Egypt for the precious development and progression of civilizations with very strong and firm roots that always provide sufficient support for development of society and culture. However in western world, Egypt had been a mare fairy land for a long considerable time. It is also evident that Egypt had almost always been busy in exchange of empires with other civilizations. There had been varyingly different empires of Egypt; Persian, Arabs, Muslim, Christian, Ottoman and even French during the outbreak of nineteenth century for a little time. As a result, Egypt could not get time sufficient to build a frequent and regular trade or social relation with western countries. It was until the eighteenth century that Egypt had been passing through varying and wavering natures of empires and rulers. Last kingdom of Egypt held by Muhammad Ali Pasha (widely known as Mehmet Ali) was comparatively a sustainable empire which lasted over a long time and helped Egypt to make significant effect over west to be recognized as a major country. Recently after the revolution, Egyptian kingdom has turned into a republic. Kingdom is getting despised for its policies. It is also end of an era of traditional Egyptian emperors. When we look back to eighteenth and nineteenth centuries we find out that it has been most important time from the perspective of international concerns gained out of Egyptian considerations. Eighteenth- Nineteenth century Egypt and West It was only after the eighteenth century that Egypt came under the focus for all the western civilization as a mainstream country and a powerful centre of eastern civilizations. Reversely, it was also the sustainable governments of Ottomans and further Mehmet Ali which considered international issues to be as serious as their internal conflicts and policies. Previously non-sustainable empires had been ruling Egypt for considerable smaller vulnerable times and most of their kingdoms and emperors were vanished before they could make a significant effects and policies for the west. Egyptians also had a hereditary tendency to keep away and hide from other civilizations. It was the attraction of Egyptian art and culture that had always appealed to westerns but when it comes to the political and social collaboration, West has never got amalgamated with Egypt as it does with inter-western nations and some major eastern nations. Egypt had been isolated and known only for the pyramids, sphinx and other cultural symbols. As King and Hall (2005) asserts about a known figure ‘Pharaoh’s Bed’: One of the best-known temples of the Roman period is that at Philse, which is known as the "Kiosk," or "Pharaoh's Bed." Owing to the great picturesqueness of its situation, this small temple, which was built in the reign of Trajan, has been a favorite subject for the painters of the last fifty years, and next to the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and Karnak, it is probably the most widely known of all Egyptian buildings. Right from the ancient times Egyptians had a nature of secretive culture. It is well know that secrets of pyramids are told to be still unknown to the modern civilizations. However truth it is, it evidently come out that Egyptians had shown less interest in mixing up their cultures with western. Still, quite contradictorily, all the empires over the world had always tried to take Egypt into their account. Upper Egypt had been a favorite land for conquerors. Moreover, native Egyptians also kept mixing up with other breeds during long periods of time. Arabs, Greeks, Christians and Muslims had come and turned into natives of Egypt. Still Egyptians had been seeing westerns and other civilizations as very distinct to them. For the western side of Nile, Egyptians followed the culturally biased opinion for a very long time. For the ancient Egyptians, the west (specifically the desert west of the Nile) was the destination of the dead. This is because the sun died every day in the western horizon, only to be reborn the next morning in the east. Most Egyptians were buried to the west of the Nile with their heads facing the west. The "Goddess of the West" (a woman shown with the hieroglyph of the West on her head) would receive the blessed dead in the afterlife. This goddess was originally developed as a persona of Hathor, who also occasionally wears the glyph on her head. In the image to the left, the blessed deceased is shown heading towards the western mountains where there is plenty of food and drink (Egyptian Myths). Major attraction of west had been the religion, art and culture of Egypt. However when it comes to international policies, those things matter very less as compared to the benefits that a national can provide to others. Post-mamluk era brought Egypt into international attention mainly for the reason of its territory which held geographically most important land to reach east. Second half of the eighteenth century was anyway a time of conquerors who wished to extend their authorities over each and every corner of the world. When British found an interest in Egypt, it was more due to the resources that Egypt could provide to others. Business was a primary factor for British when they got greedy for expending their empire over the distant corners of world. Britain's main interest was in stabilizing the region, so the government tended to support the Ottoman Empire (theoretically sovereign over Egypt) against all challengers, while British merchants tried to find business opportunities in the Nile Valley and Suez (Jones, 2010). Resultantly, forwarding towards the end of nineteenth century Mehmet Ali had developed a very strong influence over all Egyptian land. Obviously there were some rebel among the traditionalists but it was not in from of a revolutionary force until the new era had begun. Mehmet Ali was taken as an emperor of Egypt who provided a sustainable government for long period. Also the policies derived by him helped Egypt to be recognized over the worldly civilizations and during a gradual process of development Egypt had been involved in major countries effecting world politics and especially the relations between east and west. Conclusion Looking at the ancient past and wavering history of Egypt, it appears that Mehmet Ali and his dynasty had been able to provide a sustainable rule for Egypt. Historically it is evident that relations between East and west through Egypt had also turned successful only during this era which passed till mid of nineteenth century. However, later when the kings had not been able enough to contain the policies and the domination surpassed in some criterion. Some voices had been strengthened to level Mehmet Ali and his dynasty as non-native Turks. The trouble started in the 1870s when the Egyptian nationalist movement became active and began to target Europeans as well as Turks. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War encouraged Egyptian nationalists who viewed Mehmet Ali and his successors as "Turks" (Jones, 2010). Previously, such considerations were almost forgotten because Egyptians had already become much mixed with cultures for over entire history of Egypt. However, nationalists had been successful in turning the government, and further Era of Mehmet Ali and his dynasty led to its end after a successful epoch of Egyptian government’s reformation and worldly interaction that played a major part in making Egypt recognized to the world and connected with in terms of proving its significance in modern world too. Works Cited Auckland (N.Z.). City Council (1977). The two worlds of Omai. Auckland City Art Gallery. NZ. Print. Connaughton, Richard Michael (2005). Omai: the prince who never was. Timewell. Print. Dobrowolska, Agnieszka & Khaled Fahmy (2004). Muhammad ʻAli Pasha and his sabil: a guide to the permanent exhibition in the sabil Muhammad ʻAli Pasha in al-Aqqadin, Cairo. The American University in Cairo Press. U.S.A. p.5. Print. Egyptian Myths, (2010). Ancient Egypt: the Mythology. 04/21/2011. Web. Jones, Jim (2010). Egypt and Europe in the 19th Century. West Chester University. Web. King, L.W. & H.R. Hall (2005). History of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, And Assyria In The Light Of Recent Discovery. Gutenberg.org. Web. Sofaer  Joanna (2007). Material Identities (New Interventions in Art History). Wiley-Blackwell. Print. Vatikiotis, Panayiotis J. (1991). The history of modern Egypt: from Muhammad Ali to Mubarak. Johns Hopkins University Press, p.70. Print. Read More