Country in the northeast corner of Africa (although the Sinai Peninsula is considered part of Asia), bordering Libya, Sudan and Israel as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. After its greatest days as an ancient civilization, was ruled by Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, and the British in succession, and only became independent in 1922. Briefly part of the United Arab Rebublic with Syria from 1958 to 1961. Also occupied the Gaza Strip before Israel did.