As it says in the title-whats the most plausible way a Coptic (religiously and linguistically) state could have come into existence in Egypt? The POD limit is after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 (when "Coptic Christianity" became distinct in a religious sense). Having "no Islam" or "no Muhammad" as (a) POD is allowed.
Also, what might a Coptic Egypt look like? I know Egypt's economy in Late Antiquity largely revolved around grain exports-would that continue if the state were independent? Might Coptic Egypt become the sort of urbanized cultural center that Abbasid Muslim Egypt did? I also find things like general cultural attributes, the organization of the state (administrative bureaucracy like Byzantium, or more feudal?), and religion interesting to think about-would an independent Coptic Egypt look more like the Byzantine Empire in these regards, like Western Europe, or like something totally different? (One idea that occured to me is the revival of Pharonic symbolism-is possible, or is the memory too distant)
Sorry if this thread sounds a little vague-just think of it as a place for general discussion of a Coptic Egypt-something I've always been rather fascinated by but haven't really seen done to any great extent herel.