The Fatimids 2: The Rule from Egypt

Description

The Fatimids were one of most prosperous and influential dynasties of the medieval Muslim world, ruling from 909-1171. At its height, their empire extended from the Atlantic shores of North Africa to the Red Sea. But it was their conquest of Egypt in 969 that marked the inception of a burgeoning Mediterranean empire. This book – the second and final part on the Fatimids – continues the story from their newly founded capital city of Cairo. Drawing on a broad range of primary sources, the book navigates readers through a two-century journey that witnessed the triumphs and trials of the only sustained Shi’i caliphate to rule across the Islamic world. You will follow the empire’s expansion, including the proclamation of the Fatimid Caliphate in Baghdad, its mission to reunite Muslims under its own Isma’ili Shi’ite caliphate, and the political and religious reasons that led to its final fall when Saladin invaded their territory. The book introduces the figures who molded the empire – from the Imam-caliphs, viziers and generals, to the scholars, scientists, sailors, textile-workers and remarkable women – bringing this renowned dynasty to life. Cover Title page Copyright page Contents Acknowledgements Note on the Text Introduction Chapter 1 The Arrival of the Fatimids in Egypt The Fatimids in North Africa The Entry into Egypt Chapter 2 The Genesis of Fatimid Rule in Egypt Egypt: The Gift of the Nile Egyptian Witnesses of a New Age The Spread of the Empire Neighbours and Rivals The Consolidation of Egypt and the Final Years of al-Muʿizz’s reign Chapter 3 Towards an Inclusive Empire The People of Egypt The Struggle for Syria and the Inclusion of the Turks The New Administration of Egypt Managing Diverse Communities Chapter 4 The Composition of the State Cairo: A New Metropolis The Government Diwans The Pillars of Law and Justice The Public Ceremonials The Last Campaign of al-Aziz The Succession of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah The Fatimid Daʿwa and the Abbasid Resurgence Chapter 5 Science and Scholarship in the City Victorious Towards a Knowledge Society The Scientists of Cairo The Fatimid Daʿwa in the New Millennium Turmoil and Restoration of Order The Demise of al-Hakim and the Rise of Sitt al-Mulk Chapter 6 The Empire of the Seas The Fatimid Mapmaker The Fatimid Seafaring World Tinnis: The City of Five Thousand Looms Connections to the Indian Ocean Chapter 7 The Fluctuations of Fatimid Rule Al-Musabbihi and the Yearning for Past Years The New Regencies Al-Muʾayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi Hakim Nasir-i Khusraw Egypt’s Great Calamity From Empire to Egyptian State The Question of Succession The Flourishes of the Fatimid Daʿwa Chapter 8 Late Fatimid Egypt and the Heirs of Empire The Fatimids and the Onset of the Crusades The Egyptian Revival The Renewal of Art, Architecture, and the Moonlit Mosque The Consolidation of the Nizari Daʿwa in Iran Al-Amir’s Decree The Question of Succession The Hafizi Dawla The Tayyibi Daʿwa in Yemen The Finale of Fatimid Rule Conclusion: Glimpses of the Fatimid Legacy Glossary Notes Further Reading List of Illustrations Index World of Islam Series The Institute of Ismaili Studies