The Making of Modern Egypt and Arabia | IHP 6-4

This episode explores the parallel struggles for independence and state-building in Egypt and the Najd as the Ottoman Empire’s grip on the region began to slip. We trace the rise of modern Egypt through the ambitious reforms of Muhammad Ali Pasha and Ismail the Magnificent, whose vision for a European-style state led to the landmark construction of the Suez Canal. However, this progress came at a cost, as mounting debts triggered a British occupation and ignited the fierce 1919 Revolution led by Saad Zaghloul.

Simultaneously, we journey into the heart of Arabia to witness the restoration of the Saudi state. Follow Abdulaziz ibn Saud’s daring recapture of Riyadh and his innovative use of the Ikhwan—religiously motivated tribal settlers—to consolidate power and expand the Kingdom of the Najd. From the streets of Cairo to the deserts of the Empty Quarter, this is the story of how the modern Middle East was forged.