Italians have maintained a presence in Egypt for millennia, tracing back to the Roman Empire. From ancient times to the modern era, their influence has left an indelible mark on Egyptian society, culture, and economy. This article delves into the multifaceted history of Italian influence in Egypt, exploring its origins, evolution, and lasting impact.
Map of Europe during World War II, highlighting the strategic importance of North Africa.
Ancient Roots: Roman and Medieval Presence
The connection between Italy and Egypt dates back to ancient times, with the Roman Empire's conquest of Egypt. The last Queen of ancient Egypt (the Greek Cleopatra) married the Roman Mark Antony bringing her country as "dowry", and since then Egypt was part of the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire for centuries. During the Middle Ages Italian communities from the "Maritime Republics" of Italy (mainly Pisa, Genoa, and Amalfi) were present in Egypt as merchants.
The Rise of a Community: 19th and 20th Centuries
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Italian community in Egypt grew exponentially, becoming one of the largest expatriate communities after the Greek. Italy's preeminence in its economic relations with Egypt was reflected in the size of its expatriate community. The 1882 census of Egypt recorded 18,665 Italians in the country. By 1897 the figure rose to 24,454 and 30 years later to 52,462. Before 1952, Italians formed the second largest expatriate community in Egypt, after the Greeks.
The Italian community in Egypt consisted primarily of a large array of merchants, artisans, professionals and an increasing number of workers. They established vibrant communities, with their own schools, hospitals, and cultural associations. During the fascist period there were eight public and six Italian parochial schools. The government schools were supervised by an official committee chaired by the Italian consul and they had a total student enrollment of approximately 1,500. Other schools had student bodies numbering in the hundreds.
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Italians tended to live in exclusively Italian neighbourhoods or in neighbourhoods with other foreigners. Perhaps the most famous of these districts in Cairo was known as the "Venetian Quarter".
Contributions to Egyptian Society
The Italian community contributed significantly to the development of modern Egypt, particularly in Alexandria and Cairo. The most famous building related to the Italian community was the Royal Opera House, which was to be inaugurated in 1871 with the Aida by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. The Khedivial Opera House or "Cairo Royal Opera House" was the original Opera House in Cairo. It was inaugurated in November 1869 and burned down in October 1971.
Italians in Alexandria also had 22 philanthropic societies, among which were the "National Opera Society", the "Society for Disabled War Veterans", the "Society of Collectors of Military Insignia", the "Italian Club", the "Italian Federation for Labour Cooperation", the "War Orphans Relief Society", the "Mussolini Italian Hospital" and the "Dante Alighieri Italian Language Association".
Italian-Egyptian relations were so strong and deemed so important that when the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III abdicated in 1946 after Italy's defeat in World War II, Egyptian King Faruk invited Victor Emmanuel III to live in Alexandria.
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Linguistic and Cultural Exchange
The influence of Italian culture extended to the Egyptian language, with numerous Italian words being adopted into Egyptian Arabic. There are many Italian words used in Egyptian Arabic, most of which have survived to this very day:
- Banka: From Banco, Bank.
- Basta: Enough, stop. From Basta, enough.
- Benzina: Gas station. From Benzina, Gas station.
- Gazuzah / Gazuza: Soda.
- Pagliacco: Clown. From Pagliacco, Clown.
- Bocca: mouth. From Bocca, mouth.
- Cartone: Pasteboard. False or fake. From cartone, Pasteboard.
- Conto: Invoice or bill. From Conto, Account.
- Guanto: Glove. From Guanto, Glove.
- Makana: From Macchina, Machine.
- Marca: Brand, make. From Marca, Brand.
- Meccanico: Mechanic. From Meccanico, Mechanic.
- Mobilia: Furniture. From Mobilia, Furniture.
- Ricetta: Prescription. From Ricetta, Prescription.
- Salone: Hall or reception area. From Salone, Hall.
- Insalata: Salad. From Insalata, Salad.
- Tazza: Frying pan. From Tazza, Frying pan.
- Teatro: Theater. From Teatro, Theater.
- Torta: Cake, pie. From Torta, Cake.
- Veranda: Balcony. From Veranda, Balcony.
- Villa: Villa. From Villa, Villa.
The Impact of World War II and Nasserism
Like many other foreign communities in Egypt, migration back to Italy and the West reduced the size of the community greatly due to wartime internment and the rise of Nasserist nationalism against Westerners. After 1952 the Italian Egyptians were reduced - from the nearly 60,000 of 1940 - to just a few thousands. Most Italian Egyptians returned to Italy during the 1950s and 1960s, although a few Italians continue to live in Alexandria and Cairo.
Gamal Abdel Nasser, whose policies impacted the Italian community in Egypt.
The Post-War Italian State and the Exodus from Egypt
How could a state’s distanced approach to the welfare of its national subjects shape experiences at the end of empire? In this article, I consider this question by looking at the relationship between the Italian state and the departure of Italians from Egypt after 1945. The article presents a sociopolitical history of how experiences and expectations of welfare have shaped relations between the state and its migrant subjects at the end of empire. I argue that the regional strategies of the postwar Italian state turned away from institutional support of Italian residents in Egypt as a means of positioning itself closer to Nasser’s government after 1954 and, in doing so, marginalised the interests of migrant Italians even while it relied on interwar narratives about their importance for Mediterranean political kinships.
It examines how, at the very moment the two new republics moved closer together one another, Italian residents in Egypt were kept at a strategic distance by the Italian state and its diplomatic actors in Egypt.
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Contemporary Italian Presence
Despite the decline in numbers, the Italian presence in Egypt persists. The documentary by Sherif Fathy Salem The Italians of Egypt (80′, 2011) tells the story of this community, considered the most integrated in Egyptian society and highly respected for their contributions to the developments of modern Egypt, especially in Alexandria and Cairo.
Today, a small but vibrant Italian community remains in Egypt, maintaining cultural ties and contributing to various sectors. Their legacy is visible in the architecture, cuisine, and cultural landscape of Egyptian cities, a testament to the enduring influence of Italians in Egypt.
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