History of Cairo
At the beginning of the fourth century, the Romans built a large city in the area now occupied by Cairo, creating the first large permanent settlement in the region. In the seventh century, Muslims conquered Egypt and moved the capital from Alexandria to a new city, Fustat, in what is now Cairo. As subsequent dynasties took control over the following centuries, they shifted the capital slightly further north, but always within the region of present-day Cairo. In the 10th century, the most heavily fortified city to this day was built, which eventually became known as Cairo. Later dynasties, from Saladin to the Mamluks, kept Cairo as their capital, and when the Ottomans conquered Egypt, they made Cairo the capital of the territory.
Religion
Cairo has one of the richest religious histories in the Middle East. It is the focal point of Coptic Christianity, which broke away from the Eastern Orthodox and Western churches in the fifth century. More than 90% of Egyptian Christians are Copts, and they make up about 15 to 20% of Egypt’s population. The vast majority of Cairo’s population is Sunni Muslim, and Islam permeates the culture. Unlike many countries in the Middle East, however, the government is secular: although new laws must align with Islamic law, the constitution prohibits parties from pursuing political agendas. Shia Muslims number among the few thousand, as do followers of the Baha’i faith.
Cairo’s cuisine
Cairo lies north of the lush Nile Valley, and its cuisine makes extensive use of fresh vegetables. Bread is at the heart of every meal in Cairo, and flatbread is the most typical. Bread is such an integral part of the Egyptian diet that it is subsidised by the government, and bread lines can be seen all over Cairo. Many foods typical in Cairo are found throughout the Middle East, including baba ghanoush, tahini and falafel. The best-known dish in Cairo is koshari, made with macaroni, lentils and rice.
Art and music
The city offers a wide range of art and music, some of which is thousands of years old. The Egyptian National Museum is located in Cairo and features fine art dating back to the great dynastic period. Modern fine art relies heavily on multimedia, and works by artists such as Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar and Gazbia Sirry can be seen in galleries across Cairo. The contemporary music scene includes both modern pop music influenced by Western styles and traditional folk music featuring traditional harps, flutes and the stringed oud.
