EgyptEgyptThe Fatimids and the The Fatimids and the

MamluksMamluks

Introduction to Arab and Introduction to Arab and Islamic CivilizationIslamic Civilization

This is a Summary fromThis is a Summary from

The University of Calgary The University of Calgary the Islamic the Islamic World Until 1600World Until 1600 http://http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/iswww.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/index.htmllam/index.html

The Art of the Fatimid Period (909–1171),The Art of the Fatimid Period (909–1171), (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fat(http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fati/hd_fati.htm)i/hd_fati.htm)

Abbasid Jurisprudence Abbasid Jurisprudence

During the Abbasid Dynasty, During the Abbasid Dynasty, Jurisprudence developed by five Jurisprudence developed by five thinkers, Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafei, thinkers, Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafei, Maliki and Jaafari: Maliki and Jaafari:

Ja’afar al-Sadiq’s Son Ismail was Ja’afar al-Sadiq’s Son Ismail was seventh Imam according to the seventh Imam according to the Ismaelis religious shi’a that Ismaelis religious shi’a that established the Fatimid Empire.established the Fatimid Empire.

Egypt: The Fatimids DynastyEgypt: The Fatimids Dynasty The Fatimids are the first Muslims to rule Egypt who were not a part The Fatimids are the first Muslims to rule Egypt who were not a part

of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad. of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad.

The Fatimids derived their name from the Prophet's daughter and The Fatimids derived their name from the Prophet's daughter and Ali's wife, Fatima. Ali's wife, Fatima.

Their rule began in North Africa, where they took power from the Their rule began in North Africa, where they took power from the Aghlabids in 909. From their North African base at Raqqadah, the Aghlabids in 909. From their North African base at Raqqadah, the Fatimids conquered Abbasid Egypt in the 960s. Fatimids conquered Abbasid Egypt in the 960s.

The Fatimids built a new capital in Egypt in 973, naming it al-Qahirah.The Fatimids built a new capital in Egypt in 973, naming it al-Qahirah.

The empire expanded across the Sinai Peninsula into Syria and The empire expanded across the Sinai Peninsula into Syria and Palestine, sometimes was in direct conflict with the Byzantines and Palestine, sometimes was in direct conflict with the Byzantines and Abbasids. Abbasids.

Because they ruled from Egypt and they soon lost control of their Because they ruled from Egypt and they soon lost control of their neglected territories in North Africa.neglected territories in North Africa.

The University of Calgary The University of Calgary the Islamic World Until 1600the Islamic World Until 1600 http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/index.html

The Legitimacy of the Imam in the The Legitimacy of the Imam in the FatimidFatimid

To understand the importance of the To understand the importance of the legitimacy of the Fatimid Imamat it is legitimacy of the Fatimid Imamat it is necessary to recall the controversy that necessary to recall the controversy that rose over the Prophet’s succession. “ The rose over the Prophet’s succession. “ The Muslim Civil War”Muslim Civil War”

The establishment of the Fatimid State The establishment of the Fatimid State fulfilled the wish of the Shi’a which had fulfilled the wish of the Shi’a which had been supported by Ismaili Shiites all over been supported by Ismaili Shiites all over the Islamic landsthe Islamic lands

The Fatimid ArtsThe Fatimid Arts The Fatimids excelled in the Arts, Sciences and ArchitectureThe Fatimids excelled in the Arts, Sciences and Architecture

In Cairo, their first mosque was al-Azhar founded along with In Cairo, their first mosque was al-Azhar founded along with the city (969–73). Al Azhar and its was an institution of the city (969–73). Al Azhar and its was an institution of higher learning. Al-Azhar University), became the spiritual higher learning. Al-Azhar University), became the spiritual center for Ismaeili Shi’a. center for Ismaeili Shi’a.

The Mosque of al-Hakim (996–1013), is an important The Mosque of al-Hakim (996–1013), is an important example of Fatimid architecture and architectural example of Fatimid architecture and architectural decoration. decoration.

Other surviving Fatimid structures include the Mosque of al-Other surviving Fatimid structures include the Mosque of al-Aqmar (1125) as well as the monumental gates for Cairo's Aqmar (1125) as well as the monumental gates for Cairo's city walls commissioned by the powerful Fatimid emir and city walls commissioned by the powerful Fatimid emir and vizier Badr al-Jamali (r. 1073–94). vizier Badr al-Jamali (r. 1073–94).

(http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fati/hd_fati.htm)(http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fati/hd_fati.htm)

The Mosque of al-HakimThe Mosque of al-Hakim

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fati/hd_fati.htm

The Fatimids ArtsThe Fatimids Arts

The Fatimids started a renaissance in the decorative arts, The Fatimids started a renaissance in the decorative arts, which made Cairo the most important cultural center in the which made Cairo the most important cultural center in the Islamic world. Islamic world.

Al-Fustat, became a major center for the production of Al-Fustat, became a major center for the production of pottery, glass, and metalwork, and rock-crystal, ivory, and pottery, glass, and metalwork, and rock-crystal, ivory, and wood carving; textile factories run by government officials wood carving; textile factories run by government officials created tiraz fabrics in the name of the caliph elsewhere in created tiraz fabrics in the name of the caliph elsewhere in the Egyptian region, especially the Nile Delta. the Egyptian region, especially the Nile Delta.

A novel, more refined style developed in pottery; bands with A novel, more refined style developed in pottery; bands with small animals and inscriptions now formed the major small animals and inscriptions now formed the major decoration in textiles; and rock-crystal carvers demonstrated decoration in textiles; and rock-crystal carvers demonstrated great skill in works created for and treasured by the caliphs great skill in works created for and treasured by the caliphs themselves. themselves.

Bowel and Carved Wood from the Bowel and Carved Wood from the Fatimid DynastyFatimid Dynasty

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The AyyubidsThe Ayyubids

By 1171, the Fatimids lost power to an expanding group of By 1171, the Fatimids lost power to an expanding group of Kurdish-Turks from Syria, called the Ayyubids. Kurdish-Turks from Syria, called the Ayyubids.

The Ayyubids were led by a Kurd, Salah al-Din, or Saladin, who The Ayyubids were led by a Kurd, Salah al-Din, or Saladin, who became one of the most famous rulers in Islamic history, and became one of the most famous rulers in Islamic history, and whose father, Ayyub, lent his name to their dynasty. whose father, Ayyub, lent his name to their dynasty.

Saladin justified his claim to power by invoking the Muslim fear of Saladin justified his claim to power by invoking the Muslim fear of the Christian Crusaders, claiming that the Ayyubids would defeat the Christian Crusaders, claiming that the Ayyubids would defeat them. them.

Saladin's proclamation of a military jihad against the Crusaders Saladin's proclamation of a military jihad against the Crusaders rallied support to his otherwise tenuous rule. This strategy would rallied support to his otherwise tenuous rule. This strategy would also work for the Mamluks, who succeeded the Ayyubids with the also work for the Mamluks, who succeeded the Ayyubids with the proclamation of a military jihad against the invading Mongols. proclamation of a military jihad against the invading Mongols.

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The Mamluks The Mamluks After Shajarat's death in 1259 the Ayyubid dynasty, on a steady decline for After Shajarat's death in 1259 the Ayyubid dynasty, on a steady decline for

ten years, finally fell to the Mamluks, a class of Turkish slave soldiers who ten years, finally fell to the Mamluks, a class of Turkish slave soldiers who had served under the Ayyubids. had served under the Ayyubids.

The Mamluks, under their first sultan, Qalawun, immediately resumed the The Mamluks, under their first sultan, Qalawun, immediately resumed the Ayyubid struggle against the Crusaders from Europe, in addition to Ayyubid struggle against the Crusaders from Europe, in addition to defending Islam from a new challenger, the Mongols. defending Islam from a new challenger, the Mongols.

By 1258 the Mongols had sacked Baghdad and ended the long-standing By 1258 the Mongols had sacked Baghdad and ended the long-standing Abbasid dynasty there, and they were quickly approaching Mamluk lands. Abbasid dynasty there, and they were quickly approaching Mamluk lands.

The Mamluks were one of the few armies in the world that were able to The Mamluks were one of the few armies in the world that were able to defeat the Mongols. defeat the Mongols.

The emphasis the Mamluk state put on military training above The emphasis the Mamluk state put on military training above administrative or even cultural development was one reason for their administrative or even cultural development was one reason for their success in battle .success in battle .

The Mamluks established a decentralized court system that took the four The Mamluks established a decentralized court system that took the four Sunni Schools of jurisprudence as the basis of their religious rule, excluding Sunni Schools of jurisprudence as the basis of their religious rule, excluding the school of Jaafar al-Sadiq the school of Jaafar al-Sadiq