Muhammad Ali Dynasty’s Contributions to Civilization (1805–1952 CE)
Dr. Ahmed Ghobashy, Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development
19 March 2023
01:00 PM
Main Building, Third Floor Floating Room (F3)
The Antiquities Museum and the Zahi Hawass Center for Egyptology, affiliated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Cultural Outreach Sector, organize a lecture entitled “Muhammad Ali Dynasty’s Contributions to Civilization (1805–1952 AD)”. The lecture is held on Sunday, 19 March 2023; 1:00 pm, at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Main Building, Third Floor Floating Room (F3). The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Ahmed Ghobashy, Associate Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. The lecture sheds light on the ruling family of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Egypt—the Dynasty lasted for nearly 147 years until the Free Officers’ Revolution of 1952—and their most significant contributions to the civilization that are represented in architectural buildings, hotels, memorials, medals and decorations.
This period, which is regarded one of the most important periods in Egypt’s modern and contemporary history, starts with a significant democratic transformation. Selecting Muhammad Ali as the viceroy of Egypt with popular support, marks a new phase of building a strong state and a philosophy relying on power. Egypt took precedence economically and militarily until the conflict stage with the Ottoman Empire started. The major powers intervened to settle the Egyptian issue through the Convention of London in 1840 AD, and the two firmans (decrees) in 1841 AD; the most important prerogative accorded to Muhammad Ali and his family was the hereditary right to rule Egypt that resulted in the Muhammad Ali dynasty.
This lecture discusses several points and reflections on the history of the Muhammad Ali dynasty; especially its cultural aspects, such as the development of the role of the Egyptian national elites, women, and architectural establishments—especially Khedivial Cairo and its buildings, architectural and artistic styles. The researcher also tackles the most important palaces and historical events associated with them, such as Ras El-Tin Palace that witnessed the rise and downfall of the Alawi dynasty, and the monument of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Abdeen Palace; one of the finest examples of historical documentation of an entire era in an artwork. In addition, the lecture sheds light on the cultural contributions represented in the interest in Egyptian heritage and antiquities, and the establishment of museums, such as the Egyptian Museum, the Islamic Museum, the Coptic Museum, the National Library, the Opera House, and theaters. The researcher concludes by highlighting the medals and decorations of the Muhammad Ali dynasty, their protocols and associated titles.