1945 Survey of Egypt Map of the Arab World, Founding of the Arab League

Formation of the Arab League.

This is a 1945 Arabic-language persuasive map of the Arab World published by the Survey of Egypt. It was created to celebrate the formation of the League of Arab States (Arab League) on March 22, 1945. A key event in the history of Pan-Arabism, the Arab League was closely connected to worsening violence in Palestine. Though historically significant as a forum for representatives from all Arab countries, the organization has struggled to unify Arab States over the decades amid mistrust, ideological differences, and narrow national interests.

A Closer Look

The map covers the Arab world and adjacent regions from southern Europe and North Africa to Iran and Afghanistan. Countries and territories shaded dark green are part of the Arab League (Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and North Yemen). In contrast, lighter green shading indicates Arab countries that were not (yet) members. Perhaps the most impressive part of the map is the title cartouche, which features the flags of all Arab countries and territories as well as two emblems, one with the name of the organization in Arabic (جامعة الدول العربية, similar to its flag today), and the other says 'Arab Peoples' (شعوب عربية).

Historical Context

During World War II, momentum grew among regional leaders for a formal framework to coordinate policy and resist European colonial control. Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa al-Nahhas Pasha subsequently hosted consultations in Cairo with delegates from Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. These preliminary discussions culminated in the signing of the Alexandria Protocol in October 1944, which established the groundwork for a voluntary association of sovereign Arab nations rather than a unified federal state.

Building upon the Alexandria Protocol, representatives from Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria convened in Cairo to sign the Pact of the League of Arab States on March 22, 1945, with North Yemen joining as the seventh original member shortly thereafter. The pact formally inaugurated the League of Arab States to foster economic, cultural, and defense cooperation while strictly preserving each member's national sovereignty. Headquartered in Cairo, the League represented the first major institutionalization of pan-Arab diplomacy in the post-war era, providing a unified political platform as regional states asserted independence and published national mapping initiatives in 1945.

In the decades following its creation, the Arab League expanded from its original founding members to 22 sovereign states as decolonization swept across North Africa, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. The organization frequently served as a multilateral forum for coordinating opposition to Israeli statehood and managing regional crises. However, deep ideological divisions, such as those between socialist republics and traditional monarchies during the Cold War, often limited its ability to enforce decisions. After Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel, the League suspended Egypt's membership and moved its headquarters to Tunis until 1990, after which Egypt was reinstated, and Cairo was restored as the administrative center. Despite ongoing political divisions during events such as the 1990-1991 Gulf War and the post-2011 Arab Spring upheavals, the League continues to function as the primary regional body for institutional cooperation and collective diplomacy.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by the Survey Department of Egypt in 1945, almost certainly after May 5, 1945, when North Yemen joined the League. The Library of Congress holds the only cataloged example of this map.

Cartographer

Survey of Egypt (c. 1898 - present; مصلحة المساحة المصرية) was the official surveying body of the Egyptian government from the turn of the 20th century until the founding of the Republic of Egypt. As Egypt was a British Protectorate for most of this period, the survey closely resembled government survey operations in other British colonies and protectorates. However, unlike many other surveys, the Survey of Egypt did not continue under its colonial name in the postcolonial period. Instead, in the independence era, the former Survey became known as the Egyptian General Survey Authority (الهيئة المصرية العامة للمساحة), from 1971 has been affiliated with the Ministry of Irrigation (وزارة الري).   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Light wear along original fold lines. Closed margin tears professionally repaired on verso. Verso repairs to fold separations.

References

OCLC 895011150.