Abstract

Brief Statement: The socio-economic and communal structures of the Armenians in Egypt during 1914-1918 are examined to lay the ground upon which the responses of the Armenian community in Egypt to the impact of World War l and the Armenian genocide are analyzed. Methodology and procedure: For an understanding of the socio­economical structure of the community, the study is primarily based on the l 911 census of the Apostolic Armenian community in Alexandria and the contemporary articles in Armenian periodicals dealing with the occupational patterns of the Armenians in Egypt. The communal structure as it existed during the years under study has been examined through the published documents of the 1863 Armenian National Constitution in Istanbul, and the 1907 Administrative Decree of the Diocese in Egypt. The theoretical information provided by these documents has been complemented by the 1914-1918 Minutes of the Civil Council of the Armenian Prelacy in Cairo.

The manner in which certain Armenian individuals and the Prelacy institutions have been affected by the war are analyzed through a detailed examination of the 1914-1918 minutes of both the Community and Civil Councils in Cairo. Concerning the responses of the Armenian community to the political events affecting their homeland and compatriots in Ottoman Armenia, the used sources can be divided into two principle groups: for the Communal leadership's response, the minutes of the Prelacy Councils have been used; for the responses of the masses the contemporary Armenian press has been consulted. Findings and Conclusions: - The Armenian community in Egypt during World War I was not the "rich" and "prosperous'' community it gave the impression to be. - --As part of the socio-economic structure of the country, Armenians in Egypt were affected, in various ways, by the economic changes brought about as a result of the war. - As an ethnic minority living in proximity to their homeland the Armenians in Egypt were faced with numerous moral obligations towards the tragic events that befell their compatriots in Ottoman territories. - Egypt's geo-political situation both facilitated and limited, at different stages of the war, the possibilities of the Armenians in Egypt to support their compatriots in Ottoman territories and Transcaucasia

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Date of Award

6-1-1997

Online Submission Date

1-1-1997

First Advisor

Raouf Abbas

Committee Member 1

Raouf Abbas

Committee Member 2

Nelly Hanna

Committee Member 3

Michael Reimer

Document Type

Thesis

Extent

212 leaves

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Armenians

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Armenian massacres, 1915-1923.

Rights

The American University in Cairo grants authors of theses and dissertations a maximum embargo period of two years from the date of submission, upon request. After the embargo elapses, these documents are made available publicly. If you are the author of this thesis or dissertation, and would like to request an exceptional extension of the embargo period, please write to thesisadmin@aucegypt.edu

Comments

"The thesis may be consulted in the library but may not be photocopied" This restriction will cease in June 1999 unless its renewal has been applied for and granted.

Call Number

Thesis 1997/37

Location

mgfth

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