Egypt’s superior revenue extraction enabled the invasion of Syria.

Evidence

The problem, however, was that although the Pasha might have thought that he was rejuvenating the Empire by showing the officials in Istanbul how to run it, by the late 1820s he had practically managed to create in Egypt another center of power. For while Cairo commanded a smaller proportion of the overall revenue of the Empire, it was being turned into a more efficient and vibrant centre which diverted more and more resources away from Istanbul. It was this ability of Mehmed Ali’s government to extract more revenue and to mobilize the resources of his province that enabled him to invade Syria. Seen in this light, the Syrian campaign, therefore, while highlighting the inefficiency and cumbersome nature of Ottoman reform to date, pointed out the way as shown by Mehmed Ali of how affairs of state could be better organized. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1545

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to chapter 1-2 material on Egypt’s economic administration and centralization under Mehmed Ali. — connects to: Mehmed Ali cited Ottoman neglect as his justification for invading Syria; Egyptian occupation of Syria cost more than its revenue despite its wealth — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 200; Military occupation of Syria cost more than it returned in revenue (+5 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1545

Broader Connections

• Egyptian occupation of Syria cost more than its revenue despite its wealth #contradicts (0.70) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 200
• Military occupation of Syria cost more than it returned in revenue #contradicts (0.60)
• Mehmed Ali’s monopolies increased Egypt’s revenue sixfold between 1805 and 1821 #corroborates (0.55)
• Mehmed Ali invaded Syria in 1831 without the Sultan’s consent. #expands (0.50)
• The military build-up of the early 1820s was long preparation for invading Syria. #corroborates (0.50)
• Ibrahim’s Syria capture panicked the Sultan into raising a new army #corroborates (0.50)
• Mehmed Ali’s army briefly conquered Hijaz, Sudan, Syria and parts of Anatolia #expands (0.45) — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 75