Immigration Of Ashwam To Egypt In The Second Half Of The Nineteenth Century And Early Twentieth Century

Al Sham region has witnessed an increased immigration movement to Egypt during the second half of the 19th century and beginning of 20th century. At that time, the political, social and economic crisis prevailed at the region resulted in a state of insecurity and instability, and the policy of tyranny and suppression that was exercised by the Othmani "Walis" (leaders). Given also the deterioration of the living conditions of the people, large numbers of inhabitants of Al Sham were obliged to decide on immigration in order to seek a better environment which would offer better living conditions compared with their place of origin. Thus, immigration movement heading abroad was activation and the first destination for the Shamis was Egypt due to their political stability, economical prosperity and proportional freedom reaches as a consequence of the Reformation Method of the Khidaiwi State which has advanced in implementing reformation and modernization plans initiated during the era of Mohamed Ali Basha and continued throughout especially at the days of Al Khidaiwi Ismaeel who invited artists and educationalists and all nationalities to Egypt to contribute in its reformation and modernization programs aimed at establishing a modern state similar to the European example in all fields of Administration, politics, economics and culture. Egypt has received those immigrants who interacted with the new environment they settled in. They have integrated in the Egyptian society of which they had links of mutual historical relationship and close oriental traditions. This relationship has allowed opportunities of notable economical success and also political activities in a wider freedom margin that was not accessible in Al Sham. In addition to their cultural and intellectual contributions in Egypt which touched on various spheres of knowledge. They have established newspapers and magazines, contributed in movement of translation and Arabization that assimilated global sciences and literature, activated movement of printing and publications, contributed significantly in the artistic and theatric movement in Egypt and other fields of knowledge they took a prospered part within the modern renaissance witnessed in Egypt during the second half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.