ABSTRACT
The Egyptians' okda al khawaga, or 'foreigner complex', has been built up over many centuries through the cunning policies of various alien rulers. It was the Romans, however, who first sowed the seeds of this deeply rooted complex. Pharaoh Cleopatra was clever enough to choose Rome as a strategic ally, but she was tragically mistaken in picking Antony for her partner. Her political miscalculations culminated in her premature death in 30 BC and the demise of an extraordinary civilisation of unique temporal, spatial, spiritual and cultural dimensions. The introduction of Islam marked the beginning of Egypt's first renaissance after many centuries of ruthless Roman suppression. But the Romans had effectively cut off Egypt from its roots, and the Egyptian Muslims were unable to revive their glorious Pharaonic culture. The main reason why the Egyptians regained access to the army was that Egypt was destined to play a unique role in the whole region from the seventh century AD onwards.
