ABSTRACT
The way in which the Egyptian authorities dealt with the tribal population did not change in its essence up to the period discussed in this book. The attitude of the authorities to the bedouin was shaped by a continuous conflict. On the one hand, they waged a military struggle against the rebellious tribes who gave aid to the enemies of the regime, harassed the villagers and threatened security on the roads. On the other hand, they developed good relations with the leaders of the tribal groups by granting them land, involving them in the administration, and even relying on the bedouin element for military purposes. The bedouin also assisted the authorities in various economic spheres. The fact that the bedouin lived in the desert, in distant peripheral regions, only increased suspicion and fear of them. Basically, most of the Egyptian rulers adopted a similar policy. The occasional variations are connected with changes in bedouin society in matters of settlement and economics, and also with the different personalities who were active in this sphere.
