History of the Arab World: 18th Century – Second Half of the 18th Century

1866: Egyptian khedive (ruler of Egypt) opens the PARLIAMENT ➔ first Parliament in the Arab world ➔ this gives a new class the chance to emerge: they are officers son of poor people but they are educated. They are the people who make revolts against the French and also against the khedive (amazed with modernization).

1881: Tunisia under French control.

1882: revolution of URABI PASCIA in Egypt (born from the financial problems of Egypt: bankruptcy because of the impossibility of lending money for interest in a period of important reforms and buildings). Occupation by Great Britain.

1885: the troops of mahdi (who takes the community in front of God in the “last day”) occupy Kathoum (Sudan).

1898: Lord Kietchner destroys the Islamic state (defeat of mahdi). It comes to exist an important Islamic newspaper (al-Manar). The previous was al-Ahram (published in Cairo since 1875). Al-Manar was a reformist journal calling for the modernization of the Islam (as Wahhabites did in Saudi peninsula).

3 trends in this period:
1) Wahhabi ➔ conservative;
2) Afghani ➔ call for a modern mentality;
3) Abdu ➔ more practical (he was creating the laws to be applied).

Positive interpretation about lending money for a “small interest” (in order to open banks and repay the increasing debt). He needs a fatwa (interpretation) in order to change the rule according to which money couldn’t be lent for interest. The problem is solved defining a “small interest” that is needed to repay the work, and that therefore shouldn’t be considered an interest.
Opening to the women in the cultural life.