Muhammad Ali Pasha was an Ottoman Albanian military commander and the de facto ruler of Egypt in the early 19th century. He is often regarded as the founder of modern Egypt due to his extensive reforms in the military, economy, and education. His leadership helped transform Egypt into a powerful state within the Ottoman Empire. Under Muhammad Ali's rule, Egypt experienced significant industrial and agricultural advancements. He established a centralized government and promoted the cultivation of cash crops like cotton. His efforts laid the groundwork for Egypt's modernization and influenced the region's development in the years that followed.