About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherI. B. Tauris & Company, The Limited

ISBN-101845119606

ISBN-139781845119607

eBay Product ID (ePID)71191520

Product Key Features

Book TitleTowards a Shi'i Mediterranean Empire : Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo

Number of Pages256 Pages

LanguageEnglish

TopicIslam / History, Religion, Politics & State, Islam / Shi'a, Middle East / Egypt (See Also Ancient / Egypt)

Publication Year2009

IllustratorYes

GenreReligion, History

AuthorShainool Jiwa

Book SeriesIsmaili Texts and Translations Ser.

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.6 in

Item Weight15.9 Oz

Item Length8.5 in

Item Width5.5 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2009-279673

Table Of ContentAbbreviations Chronology Introduction: The Rise of the Fatimids al-Mu'izz li Din Allah al-Maqrizi and the Fatimids Translation of the itti'a

SynopsisI.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies The Imam-caliph al-Mu1izz li-Din Allah (r. 953-975), founder of the city of Cairo, transformed the emergent Fatimid state from a regional power of limited influence to an impressive Mediterranean empire whose authority extended from the shores of the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. His vision and dynamism contributed to the high watermark of Fatimid success in establishing a Shi'i empire, which contributed to the cultural and intellectual efflorescence of the Muslim world. Amongst al-Mu1izz's crowning achievements was the conquest of Egypt, a cherished goal of the Fatimids, which they subsequently governed for over two centuries. The writings of the erudite 15th-century Mamluk scholar Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi, document this Fatimid triumph and provide one of the most comprehensive accounts of al-Mu1izz's reign. Al-Maqrizi's "Itti1az al-hunafa bi-akhbar al-a imma al-Fatimiyyin al-khulafa" is an invaluable text on the Fatimid era, compiled from a range of sources, many of which are no longer extant. In this text, the only complete history of the Fatimids written by a medieval Sunni historian, al-Maqrizi demonstrates a critical discernment regarding the value and limitations of his sources that is unusual amongst Muslim historians of the time. Moreover, he records a number of official documents, letters and sermons in their entirety, often making his writings the only surviving source for this material. The English translation of a section of this rare work, presented here for the first time, together with a comprehensive introduction and annotations, makes a notable contribution to one of the most fascinating periods in Islamic history., The Imam-caliph al-Mu1izz li-Din Allah (r. 953-975), founder of the city of Cairo, transformed the emergent Fatimid state from a regional power of limited influence to an impressive Mediterranean empire whose authority extended from the shores of the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. His vision and dynamism contributed to the high watermark of Fatimid success in establishing a Shi'i empire, which contributed to the cultural and intellectual efflorescence of the Muslim world. Amongst al-Mu1izz's crowning achievements was the conquest of Egypt, a cherished goal of the Fatimids, which they subsequently governed for over two centuries. The writings of the erudite 15th-century Mamluk scholar Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi, document this Fatimid triumph and provide one of the most comprehensive accounts of al-Mu1izz's reign. Al-Maqrizi's "Itti1az al-hunafa bi-akhbar al-a imma al-Fatimiyyin al-khulafa" is an invaluable text on the Fatimid era, compiled from a range of sources, many of which are no longer extant. In this text, the only complete history of the Fatimids written by a medieval Sunni historian, al-Maqrizi demonstrates a critical discernment regarding the value and limitations of his sources that is unusual amongst Muslim historians of the time. Moreover, he records a number of official documents, letters and sermons in their entirety, often making his writings the only surviving source for this material. The English translation of a section of this rare work, presented here for the first time, together with a comprehensive introduction and annotations, makes a notable contribution to one of the most fascinating periods in Islamic history.

LC Classification NumberDT173