Citation

Luke K. History Compass 2007; 5(2): 278-287.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00410.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

On the afternoon of 13 June 1906 five British officers entered the Egyptian village of Denshawai to go pigeon shooting. An intended sporting event quickly turned into an altercation that resulted in casualties among both the British army of occupation and the villagers of Denshawai. This incident represented a turning point in the British occupation, a point in which the British officials in Egypt were faced with the decision to pursue order or justice and chose order. Concerned with growing nationalist sentiment, Egyptian officials seized upon the Denshawai incident as an opportunity to make an example of the consequences of resistance and confirm the strength of British rule. Their decision ultimately undermined this strength by inflaming public opinion in both Great Britain and Egypt. As a result of Denshawai, British imperialism in Egypt was painted in stark relief and found wanting.