In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte led a French invasion of Egypt that proved to be one of the most important events in Egypt’s modern history.
According to most scholars the history of modern Egypt dates from the emergence of Muhammad Ali’s rule in the early 19th century and his launching of Egypt’s modernization project that involved building a new army and suggesting a new map for Egypt.
The definition of Egypt’s modern history has varied in accordance with different definitions of Modernity. Some scholars date it as far back as 1516 with the Ottomans’ defeat of the Mamlūks in 1516–17.
Muhammad Ali’s dynasty became practically independent from Ottoman rule, following his military campaigns against the Empire and his ability to enlist large-scale armies, allowing him to control both Egypt and parts of North Africa and the Middle East.
