Egypt: History

1869 The Suez Canal is completed, allowing ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa.

1882

The British defeat the Egyptian army and take control of the country.

1922

Egypt gains its independence, although significant British influence remains until the 1950s.

1956 President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal.

1967

Egypt is defeated in the Six-Day War and loses control of the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza to Israel.

1971

The Aswan High Dam is completed, which has a substantial impact on agriculture and industry in Egypt.

1975 The Suez Canal reopens for the first time since the Six-Day War.

1979

Egypt signs a peace treaty with Israel, effectively returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. Subsequently, Egypt is suspended from the Arab League until 1989.

2011 Violent anti-government protests across the nation force the resignation of President Sadat and thrust the country into economic distress.

2015

The Persian Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates pledge funds to help stabilize Egypt's economy. This contribution is in addition to the over $20 billion in aid that Egypt has received from these gulf states since 2013.

2016

The IMF approves a three-year loan of $12 billion to help Egypt out of its economic crisis.

2017

Egypt joins Saudi campaign to isolate Qatar, accusing the country of promoting terrorism.