NEW 19TH CENTURY DEFENSIVE ARCHITECTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN EGYPT: THE BASTION SYSTEM (HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS)

Abstract

Impressive fortification and renovation work was carried out in Egyptin Mehmet 'Ali's reign (1805- 1848); the pasha rebuilt the old fortifications, and erected new forts according to the new developmentsof weapons and defensive systems. So, he recruited the Europeanscientific and military cadres to seeking their services. Therefore, themilitary architecture of his reign was distinguished with the Europeaninfluences from Turkey, Italy, France and Albania. In other words,many new and uncommon architectural elements have imported tothe Egyptian military architecture in the first of 19th century. Theinnovation introduced into military architecture by Mehmet 'Ali isthe regular designs of the external and internal lines of thebuildings, and the types of the towers to be compatible with attackand defensive weapons. This new type of military architecture wascalled the bastion system. The article's primary purpose isdiscussing: the universal features of military fortifications of 19thcentury in Egypt by tracing the European influences and followsthe origins of the fortification designs of Mehmet' Ali which so-calledthe bastion system. These fortifications carried out some relationson structure, designs, plans, and elements belonged to the prototypesof the European styles, like the Venetian, Ottoman and Frankishstyles which transformed directly and indirectly by Mehmet 'AlitoEgypt in the beginning of the 19th century. The study willed fine thetypes of the most important military architectural designs dating backto the nineteenth century in Egypt and tracing its origins in Europe.Also will enumerate the channels which imported this new technologyand architectural features to Egypt and investigating the factorswhich had been arrived from deferent European sources, such asthe raise and the personal vision of Mehmet 'Ali, the educationalmissions to European countries, the European scientific and militarycadres and the field experiences of the Pasha in the deferentcountries of Ottoman Empire.