Studies of Mehmed Ali almost invariably proceed in a chronological order following him as he conducts one campaign after the other, starting with his early expedition against the Wahhabis in the Hijaz (1811–18), then tracking him to the Sudan (1820–22), from there to the Morea (1824–27), and ending with his climactic confrontation with the Sultan and the European powers in his most ambitious and significant campaign in Syria (1831–41). Portrayed in this chronological manner Mehmed Ali's career immediately seems consistent, purposeful and progressing teleologically towards a climactic, well-thought-out goal, which Egyptian historians have consistently argued to be the seeking of independence from the Ottoman Empire. At the heart of these narrations and occupying central stage (sometimes literally as was shown in the Introduction above) Mehmed Ali appears as a solitary, romantic hero who was ahead of his time, little understood by his own people and betrayed by his allies, but who, through perseverance, persistence and insight was determined to fulfill his civilizing mission of pushing Egypt into the modern age and of lifting her out of what is perceived as centuries of Ottoman stagnation, tyranny and oppression.

XREF: Builds on the earlier claim (loc 77) that historians frame the Pasha's reforms as a coherent master-plan; this highlight shows the narrative technique (chronology) that produces that impression, extending it to his military campaigns and the teleological independence goal. Builds on: "Historians frame the Pasha's reforms as a coherent master-plan."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 188