Fatima Sherifa Chirine

What people wore

Kohl for feast days

On important feast days, men sometimes applied a border of black kohl pigment to their eyes, a practice more typically associated with women.

Getting around

Fast train travel between cities

In 1902, express trains traveled the 130 miles between Cairo and Alexandria in three hours and 50 minutes, though by the early 20th century some faster expresses covered 120-130 miles in as little as two and a half to three hours.

At the table

Coffee as a Cheap Daily Stimulant

At the turn of the 20th century, a cup of coffee typically cost between 1 and 3 para, and the poorest laborers could consume as many as 30 cups in a single day.

Music

Awalem Troupes in Early 20th Century Egypt

In the early 20th century, female singing and dancing troupes known as Awalem were popular, typically consisting of eight women led by an osta who followed a strict dress code.

Daily life

Limited access to formal schooling

In 1917, only 29 percent of school-age boys and 6 percent of girls received formal education, often in traditional religious kuttabs that lacked proper equipment. These village schools primarily focused on teaching the Koran and basic literacy, frequently operating in unhygienic premises with inadequate staff.

What it cost

Daily wages for Egyptian workers

In the early 20th century, a daily wage for an unskilled Egyptian worker was typically three piastres, while a skilled worker earned up to eight piastres.