In 332 BC, the conqueror Alejandro Magno (356-323 BC) initiated a New Greek dynasty and founded Alexandria. This city rapidly became the cultural center of the old world. In 642 the Arabs made Egypt a province of the caliphate of Bagdad. They implemented an Islamic rule. In 1250 the king's bodyguards founded a new royal house but in 1517 the Ottoman Empire took control of Egypt and brought a period of downfall to the region.

After a brief period in which the French were in charge (1798-1806), the Ottoman viceroy from Albania named Muhammad Ali (1769-1849) took control of Egypt. Ali politics for expansion brought a huge financial debt with England, which took control in 1882. The British lost control when Egypt declared its independence in 1922 by setting up a constitutional monarchy.

In 1952 general Muhammad Naguib (1901-1984) took control but was later replaced by Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) in 1954. Nasser, thanks to financial support from the Soviet Union, began to build the Asuan dam and in 1955 he nationalize the Suez Canal. After this there was an invasion from Great Britain. France and Israel were against this British action. Nevertheless, the Six Day War against Israel cost Egypt the Sinai Peninsula in 1967.

Nasser's successor, Anwar Sadat (1918-1981) reestablished relations with the West and ended dependant relations with the Soviet Union. In 1979 a peace treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel. In this deal Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. This treaty with Israel isolated Egypt from the rest of the Arabs countries and cause Sadat to be assassinated.
Sadat's successor, Hosni Mubarak (1928-present) has maintained good relationships with the West while trying to obtain recognition for the Palestinian rights in Israel. As a result the majority of the Arab countries have reestablish relations with Egypt.