For the Pasha had the good fortune to live for nearly another thirty years, during which time he introduced institutions and ushered in policies that make the already impressive policies of 1805–20 and the suffering they caused the Egyptians to fade by comparison. Two developments in particular assume gigantic proportions and mark 1821 as a crucial year in the Pasha’s career, namely the successful experimentation with the cultivation of long-staple cotton and the founding of a modern conscription-based army. While both these developments took place in the same year, there was no causal link between them. Nonetheless, from that time onwards very strong links existed between these two developments of the Pasha’s policies which proved to be the cornerstones of his entire regime: through cotton cultivation, which grew exponentially in the 1820s, the Pasha managed to reap unprecedented profits from its sale, which he then monopolized and used to construct his army, build his navy, establish his factories and construct numerous schools, hospitals and palaces.

Builds on: "Conscription and modern state institutions created Muhammad Ali's new army."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 74