Ismail Pasha - Khedive of Egypt

Ismail Pasha - Some considered him a disaster for Egypt, while others considered him a great reformer, but in the end, he was the only one who was called "the Great."
This book is a biography of Ismail Pasha, the first Khedive, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, who was known for his penchant for extravagance, but also for his many achievements and the modernization that occupied him throughout his reign.
Ismail Pasha was born in 1830 and ruled Egypt from 1863 to 1879. Unlike his grandfather, of Turkish-Macedonian origin, who seized power by force of arms, Ismail was offered a prosperous Egypt strategically located on the route to India. With him, the modernization journey began in a country that began to emulate the great European powers: the Suez Canal, curricula borrowed from the West to modernize the education sector, reform of the judicial system, and development of infrastructure and transportation. All of this, in addition to the vast sums Ismail Pasha spent in order to obtain the title of "Khedive" from the Sublime Porte. Ultimately, after his forced abdication in 1879, Egypt's rulers inherited his achievements and title, but also a country on the brink of collapse. Some had considered him a disaster that fell upon Egypt, while others regarded him as an exceptional reformer, but in the end, he was the only one dubbed "The Great."
This book is a biography of Ismail Pacha, the first Khedive and the grandson of Muhammad Ali, who was known for his penchant for extravagance, but also for his many achievements and the modernization that kept him busy throughout his reign.
Ismail Pacha was born in 1830, and ruled Egypt from 1863 until 1879. Unlike his grandfather, who was of Turkish Macedonian descent and seized power by the force of arms, Ismail was bestowed with a prosperous Egypt with a strategic location on the road to India. With him, the journey to modernization commenced in a country that began to resemble the great European powers: The Suez Canal. Curriculums borrowed from the West to modernize the education sector. Reforming the judicial system, and developing infrastructure and modes of transportation. In addition to that, Ismail Pacha spent enormous sums of money to receive the title of “Khedive” from the Sublime Porte. Ultimately, after he was forced to abdicate his throne in 1879, the rulers of Egypt inherited his accomplishments, title, and a country on the brink of an abyss.