Egypt is overshadowed by it's own history. Outsiders thinking about this country can't help but have their minds race back 5,000 years to the time of pharaohs, pyramids, and papyrus. In reality, Egypt has changed a lot in those many millennia.
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Saying that Egypt is different from ancient times seems like a silly point to make but many people struggle to recognize this. The culture and history of Ancient Egypt are so incredibly preserved and fascinating that it can be more vivid than modern times. The Great Pyramids still stand but Egypt is an important country in the present as well. It's the biggest Arab country and has played a crucial role in Middle Eastern politics. During the Arab Spring revolutions, protests and demonstrations in Egypt led to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
There is no doubt that Egypt has one of the richest cultural histories in the world but its allure didn't end in 1000 CE. About 88 million people now live in Egypt, 19 million in Cairo alone, making it a bustling, lively city. People have flocked there from surrounding countries, putting a strain on resources in this area that was once considered an agricultural oasis.
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