The BA Documents the History of the Railway in Egypt
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Alexandria—
The BA is currently getting ready to launch the largest historical digital project: ‘Memory of Modern Egypt’ at the end of October 2008. The website features the history of modern Egypt, with regards to all the historical events along with all political, economic, scientific, social, and artistic achievements. It also highlights the most influential personalities in all fields through photos; movies; postcards; coins and printed bills; newspapers and magazines; documents; and historical research papers that were written specifically for the website.
‘Memory of Modern Egypt’ takes particular interest in the history of the railway, which represents Egypt’s economic life at the onset of its modern revival. Project Supervisor Dr. Khaled Azab, pointed to the importance of informing all Egyptians of the history of the Railway since its development brought about urbanization. The train in Egypt performed its main function of spreading civilization all along the Nile valley. Furthermore, Egypt kept abreast of the latest developments in the main railway systems worldwide copying the latest structures and inventions and adding to them the Egyptian character.
Amira Dawoud, who is responsible for documenting the history of the railway in the ‘Memory of Modern Egypt’ Digital Project, pointed out that the history of the railway in Egypt is in fact an integral part of the history of the railway in the whole world. Thus , the website’s interest in the railways is considered an interest in an instrument of the modern age, with which Egypt competed with the whole world in using and promoting.
It is worth mentioning that the “Memory of Modern Egypt” is a definitive digital repository of materials documenting Egypt’s rich modern history, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, through photographs, films, stamps, coins, newspapers, magazines, documents, and historic studies that were drafted specifically for the Project. The Memory is a joint endeavor between the BA International School of Information Science (ISIS) in charge of the technical part, and the BA Special Projects Department that is in charge of the scientific content.