Anglo-Egyptian Conquest of SudanSudan / Egypt · 1896–1899“Come to the riverbank and hear how empire laid iron beside the Nile, then called the road destiny.”The spark was Britain's decision to return up the Nile through Egypt, to avenge Gordon, secure the river road to empire and prevent rival powers from claiming the Sudan ruled by the Mahdist state.The lesson the elders kept: The elders kept this lesson: roads, rails and gunboats can conquer territory faster than they can win consent. When outsiders design a country for control, the bill may be paid by generations who never signed it.