The Great Revolt of the Egyptians was a peasant uprising in Ptolemaic Kingdom against the imperial control of the area by Athens from 206BCE and 176BCE. It is one the earliest documented guerilla wars in history.
Causes
The main causes of the revolt were anti-colonial sentiments among Egyptian peasants, slaves and soldiers as well as economic crisis.[1]
Events
Results
Despite the military defeat of the rebellion, significant reforms were which increased prosperity of the peasants and allowed for the first expansion of human rights, making this one of the first examples of counter-insurgency in history. Some measures taken include:
- Crackdown on corrupt or power-abusing officials
- Cancellation of debts held by peasants
- Land reform
- Amnesty for criminals and fighters in the revolt
- The first form of habeas corpus and the right to a fair trial[1]