in

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

During the 1920s, Gervais Courtellemont and W. Robert Moore for National Geographic captured these autochromes that depict everyday life in Egypt among women, men, merchants, and children.

During the 19th century, unassimilated foreigners, mainly Europeans, acquired a dominant position in finance, industry, and government in Egypt. The Greek community, Italians, British, and French were Egypt’s most prominent foreign communities during the 1920s. Cairo was transformed by the arrival of the Europeans in Egypt. Europeans took over the modern quarters of the city and built European shops and exclusive clubs. There were vast blocks of apartment buildings in the newly developed quarters of the city. During the 1910s, two new sections of Cairo were built: Maadi to the south, and Heliopolis, to the northeast. There were running water and electricity in these areas and a tramway connecting Heliopolis to central Cairo. In contrast, the older sections of the city were not modernized.

Egypt’s modern history has varied based on different definitions of modernity. The modern history of Egypt is generally attributed to Muhammad Ali’s rule in 1805, when he launched Egypt’s modernization program, which included building a new army and suggesting a revised map. Following Muhammad Ali’s military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and his ability to enlist large armies, he could control both Egypt and parts of North Africa and the Middle East. After 1882, the Khedivate of Egypt was integrated into British spheres of influence in the region, which contradicted its status as a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. Muhammad Ali’s dynasty ruled the country from 1922 until 1952, after it became a British protectorate in 1915.

#1 Boy reels silk in a desert near Cairo.

Boy reels silk in a desert near Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#2 Man and two women stand at his homegrown fruit booth in Cairo.

Man and two women stand at his homegrown fruit booth in Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#3 Man peers out from a latticework covered balcony.

Man peers out from a latticework covered balcony.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#4 Beautiful building sits untouched in the streets of old Cairo.

Beautiful building sits untouched in the streets of old Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#5 Boat sitting still in the water at sunrise.

Boat sitting still in the water at sunrise.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#6 Man sitting next to his store for the Egyptian version of a washtub.

Man sitting next to his store for the Egyptian version of a washtub.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#7 Man standing outside of his quilt and cushion shop in old Cairo.

Man standing outside of his quilt and cushion shop in old Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#8 Painter standing in the doorway of his shop.

Painter standing in the doorway of his shop.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#9 Peasant singer poses in a seated position.

Peasant singer poses in a seated position.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#10 Person leans against a Ficus tree in the garden of Esbekieh.

Person leans against a Ficus tree in the garden of Esbekieh.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#11 Portrait of a young Nubian girl.

Portrait of a young Nubian girl.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#12 Shoe vendor sits next to his store.

Shoe vendor sits next to his store.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#13 Souvenir merchant walks carrying beads and necklaces.

Souvenir merchant walks carrying beads and necklaces.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#14 Street view of a mosque with a wall covered in blue tiles.

Street view of a mosque with a wall covered in blue tiles.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#15 View of a tower in Cairo.

View of a tower in Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#16 View of fishermen docking on Philae Island.

View of fishermen docking on Philae Island.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#17 View of the Great Sphinx at sunset.

View of the Great Sphinx at sunset.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#18 View of the Monastery of Saint Catherine amid granite peaks.

View of the Monastery of Saint Catherine amid granite peaks.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#19 View of the Pyramids of Giza.

View of the Pyramids of Giza.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#20 View of the Temple of Edfu at sunset.

View of the Temple of Edfu at sunset.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#21 View of the first Nile cataract at Aswan.

View of the first Nile cataract at Aswan.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#22 View of the pyramids at sunset.

View of the pyramids at sunset.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#23 View of the ruins of the Hall of the Temple of Ammon.

View of the ruins of the Hall of the Temple of Ammon.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#24 Woman in black attire posing.

Woman in black attire posing.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#25 Woman wearing a Muslim headdress.

Woman wearing a Muslim headdress.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#26 Woman posing with a basket of mandarins or tangerines.

Woman posing with a basket of mandarins or tangerines.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#27 Woman sitting on a rock with jewelry beside her.

Woman sitting on a rock with jewelry beside her.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#28 View of the pyramids with buildings in between.

View of the pyramids with buildings in between.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#29 Woman sitting with her fruits for sale.

Woman sitting with her fruits for sale.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#30 Young boy who journeys on donkeys leans against a stone wall.

Young boy who journeys on donkeys leans against a stone wall.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#31 Young cabaret dancer posing for a photograph in traditional clothing.

Young cabaret dancer posing for a photograph in traditional clothing.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#32 Egyptian street merchant sells fruits.

Egyptian street merchant sells fruits.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#33 Egyptian street merchant sells hats.

Egyptian street merchant sells hats.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#34 Orange merchant awaits customers.

Orange merchant awaits customers.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#35 Colossi of Memnon once guarded entrance to Temple of Amenophis.

Colossi of Memnon once guarded entrance to Temple of Amenophis.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#36 Men sitting at a shop at a bazaar.

Men sitting at a shop at a bazaar.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#37 People standing outside the Temple of Horus.

People standing outside the Temple of Horus.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#38 Students sitting in the courtyard of the Mosque of el Azhar.

Students sitting in the courtyard of the Mosque of el Azhar.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#39 Sugarcane vendors waiting for customers.

Sugarcane vendors waiting for customers.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#40 The image of Rameses II carved into the rock at Abu Simbel.

The image of Rameses II carved into the rock at Abu Simbel.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#41 The mosque-like Tomb of Caliphs near Cairo holds Luxor and Arab heroes.

The mosque-like Tomb of Caliphs near Cairo holds Luxor and Arab heroes.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#42 Two boys cooking meat at a meat shop in Egypt.

Two boys cooking meat at a meat shop in Egypt.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#43 Two men making glass.

Two men making glass.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#44 Two men making tents.

Two men making tents.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#45 Two men on camel-back ride past the Sphinx and Great Pyramid.

Two men on camel-back ride past the Sphinx and Great Pyramid.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#46 Two men stand in front of souvenir booths in the street of Cairo.

Two men stand in front of souvenir booths in the street of Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#47 Two men work at a tarboosh booth in Cairo.

Two men work at a tarboosh booth in Cairo.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#48 Two sais stand in front of the entrance to the French Legation.

Two sais stand in front of the entrance to the French Legation.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#49 Two students of Mecca stand at the Mosque of el Azhar.

Two students of Mecca stand at the Mosque of el Azhar.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#50 Winders of silk at the Tombs of the Caliphs.

Winders of silk at the Tombs of the Caliphs.

Leave a Reply

Life of Egypt in the 1920s Through These Fascinating Historical Photos

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Avatar of Aung Budhh

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *