They are basically Arabs and of Moslem religion. The main profit in economy comes from agriculture, oil, tourism, the tax for passing the Suez Canal and the employment abroad.
The capital of Egypt is Cairo. The population of Cairo is nearly 9.5 million. It is the biggest and most rapidly growing city. There is not enough room for living and the newcomers have to lead a miserable life in dirty and overcrowded slums. Some people even live in the suburb cemeteries and on the roofs of the numerous skyscrapers of the capital.
AGRICULTURE
As a result of the colonialism Egyptians are great growers and processors of cotton. Englishmen started to cultivate cotton to get basic materials for their textile industry. Cotton is grown in big farms on the fertile banks of the Nile River.
There were floods every year and that is why the soil was fertile thanks to the mud that was left after the flood.
The farms of Egypt grow cotton, rice, wheat, sugar cane, fruit and vegetables. They use the old traditional cultivation of land. Egypt is the biggest producer of date in the world. Much attention is paid to grow fodder. Lots of people work in textile industry where clothes and other goods are made of high quality.
CLOTHES
The ancient Egyptians wore cool flaxen clothes. The men had short tunics and the women had long tunics with shoulder straps. Both men and women liked making-up. The rich people had a wing and wore jewels made of gold and precious stones. The children were often naked. The boys were bald except a small tuft of hair. The girls had plaits. Nowadays Egyptians wear modest clothes, shoulders are covered, both man end woman wear skirts and comfortable footwear.
Entertainment
Rich people arranged big parties with plentiful food and drink served by servants and slaves. Every guest had a cone with flavored fat on his head. Singers, dancers, acrobats, jugglers and musicians entertained the guest.
Education
The poor ancient Egyptians did not go to school. The boys learned their fathers’ skills, the girls helped their mother with the housework. The rich people had private teachers or their children went to school. They learned to read and wrote on the paper made of papyrus. Egyptians used the picture handwriting that called hieroglyphics. Nowadays the level of education is different, it is free. The primary school is for children up to the age of 11. Few young people go to secondary schools though it is compulsory up to the age of 15. 62 per cent of men and 34 per cent of women are literate. There are 13 universities in Egypt.
Sport and games
Ancient Egyptians had war carriages on land and boats in the water for hunting. They usually used spears, harpoons and ropes. The children played with leather balls and toys made of wood and ivory. They liked wrestling and playing swordsmen.
Law
Tourists visiting Egypt must follow the local law. There is a proverb “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” People who break the Egyptian law without knowing it themselves can be sent out from the country, arrested or even put into prison.
There are severe punishments for having spreading or using drugs in Egypt. People can be captive, or even sentenced to death for drug problems.
Money
Egyptian money has got Arab and English numeration.
Pound: 100, 20, 10, 3, 1.
Piaster: 50, 25.
Coins: 20, 16, 5.
It is not allowed to take out money from the country. Money exchange must be done in Egypt. It is possible to pay in EUROs too.
Anniversaries and Holidays
Worldly and business life runs according to the Gregorian calendar. Other calendars have an official status. Islamic or Moslem calendar is used to fix the religious events. The Moslem year is 11 days shorter than in Gregorian calendar and the months go on accordingly.
Holidays:
Jan.7- Christmas of Copt
Feb.22- Union Day
April 23-Liberation Day of Sinai
May1- Labor day
June18- Evacuation Day
July1- Bank Holiday
Sept.11- New Year’s Day of Copt
Oct.6-Army Day
Oct. 23- Independence Day
Oct. 24- Victory Day of Suez
Dec.23- Victory Day
Supplementary Egypt
Capital- Cairo
Area- 100145 square km
Official language- Arabic
Main religions- Islamic: 94 per cent
others: 6 per cent
Political system- democratic multi-party system
Money- Egyptian pound
Literacy of adults- 50 per cent
Average life expectancy- 61 years
People per one doctor- 1320
TV-sets per 1000 people- 109
Used pictures
http://www.bcs.ee/~leho/pics/Egiptus2001_092.jpg
http://www.estravel.ee/estraveller/jan_mar2003/images/Egiptus_slaid5_A4.jpg
http://www.arabembcn.org/arabic/embassise/egypt/flag.gif
http://mec.sas.upenn.edu/marhaba/piaster2.jpg
http://liceum.secna.ru/telco/ancient/pictures/sfinks-.jpg
Used liturature
“Maad ja rahvad”
“Laste entsüklopeedia”
“Eneke”
“Targu talita”