In the mid-1900s Egypt was a very different country than it is today, in many ways more progressive and liberal. Egypt had just gained independence in 1953 and formed the Republic of Egypt. Bobbed and bee-hived hair-dos were all the rage. Vespas were a common mod of transportation. Cairo’s wide boulevards were not congested with traffic. It was a country socially looking forward, pushing for greater rights for women, children and minorities. The arts were flourishing in Egypt. Egyptian cinema was the third largest film business in the world. Cairo was considered a hub for artists, scholars, business men and women, and vacationers looking to enjoy the history and Arab culture in a growing, modernizing city. Here are 10 vintage photographs to transport you back to this bygone era in Egypt.
10 Vintage Photos from Egypt’s Roaring mid-1900s