Mapping the Sudanese colony strengthened the Egyptian national sense of self

Evidence

But how could modern Egyptians live up to this illustrious past? They could move to the Sudan en masse, Hamad wrote; only fear and hesitation kept Egyptian society from realizing this goal.This would homogenize agricultural and husbandry techniques all along the Nile Valley, link the peoples, language, and customs of both cultures. The Egyptians, with their native industry and intellect, would teach their neighbors how better to develop their country. And most important of all, colonizing Africa, as Europe’s example showed, was one of the profoundest expressions of patriotism: “Groups of Frenchmen have grown famous for their love of France because they emigrated to their colonies, especially in Africa, with all its difficulties, to gain enough livelihood.” The British did the same, displaying great national courage in toiling through adversity to bring prosperity to themselves and Africa.”So why can’t Egyptians demonstrate the same vigor and life, and harvest the fruits of the Sudan for our country?” Hamad asks. — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 762 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Wadad al-Qadi convincingly argues that this narrative fits into a genre of “the Arab rediscovery of Europe—books quite in fashion in the second half of the nineteenth century,” as the success of al-Tahtawï’s Takhlïs al-ibriz in 1834 had shown. But Mubärak, unlike al-Tahtawï, did not just inform his Egyptian readers about affairs and customs in the West. Instead, Alam al- Dïn "put the East in a direct situation of actual confrontation with the West, so that the East, before the West, knows its proper place in world civilization." This is why Africa was so important, for it too was in confrontation with the West and the East. Only through the strengthening process of confronting Africa through scientific exploration, reform of education, and colonialism could Egyptians possibly maintain themselves in what had become a new world order. — <cite>Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 271</cite> (#corroborates`, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Egypt’s own colonizing of Sudan shaped its sense of nationhood; Conquering the Sudan gave Egyptians a stronger sense of nation — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 127; Egyptian nationalism was defined against the Sudanese as racial other (+16 more)

Broader Connections

• Mubarak saw Egyptian colonialism in Sudan as necessary self-strengthening #corroborates (0.95) — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 271
• Egyptian nationalists framed colonizing Sudan as an act homeland patriotism #corroborates (0.95) — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 762
• Mapping the Sudan intensified Egyptian national self-definition #corroborates (0.92)
• Egyptian officers’ Sudan experiences anchored their national and cultural self-esteem #expands (0.60)
• Egyptian nationalism framed Sudan as Egypt’s soul through shared experience. #expands (0.55)
• Egyptian nationalism treated the Sudan as a proof of national virility #expands (0.55) — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 726
• Egyptians learned empire by drawing sharper distinctions from Sudan #expands (0.50)