New Medieval Books: History of the Arab Invasions: The Conquest of the Lands
Futuh al-Buldan is one of the most important primary sources for the early history of Islam. Written around the year 867, it chronicles the era of the Prophet Muhammad, and Muslim expansion into Syria, Egypt and Iraq.
The Seventh Crusade: New Research Reveals a Different Story
New research using Arabic sources to reveal a different story of the Seventh Crusade — one shaped by internal Ayyubid power struggles, political intrigue, and the rise of the Mamluks during Louis IX’s failed Egyptian campaign.
The Mental Toll of Polygamy in Medieval Egypt
Discover how women in 15th-century Cairo resisted polygamy—and the emotional toll it took—through rare accounts from a medieval biographical dictionary.
New Medieval Books: The Illustrated Cairo Genizah
The Cairo Genizah stands as one of the most significant collections of medieval documents, offering unparalleled insights into the past. This book highlights hundreds of fascinating examples from the Genizah, complemented by images of the original documents.
Violence and Vice: Crime in Medieval Cairo
From violent disputes to daring robberies, the streets of Cairo often became a stage for chaos, where justice was swift and brutal.
New Medieval Books: The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221
The Fifth Crusade saw European forces launch an ambitious invasion of Egypt. This book delves into the military dimensions of the campaign, examining the grand strategy of the Crusaders and the tactical manoeuvres employed during the protracted siege of Damietta, which spanned over 18 months.
New Medieval Books: Der Niederrheinische Orientbericht, c.1350
This German account of Egypt and the Near East seems to have been written by a diplomat. His work goes from covering the Sultan’s wedding to describing the region’s flora and fauna.
Contrasting Crusader Kings: Frederick II vs. Louis IX in Arabic Accounts
How did the contrasting crusader kings, Frederick II and Louis IX, shape the Holy Land through their unique approaches? Discover the diplomatic finesse of Frederick II and the zealous determination of Louis IX as seen through the eyes of Arabic historians
Medieval Tightrope Walking
Accounts of death-defying stunts for public entertainment can be found even in the Middle Ages.
22 Intriguing Characters from a Medieval City’s Underworld
Discover 22 intriguing characters from the medieval underworld in Muhammad Ibn Dāniyāl’s play, “The Amazing Preacher and the Stranger.” Explore the lives of medieval street performers, animal trainers, and shady tradesmen.
Murder and Political Drama in Medieval Syria and Egypt
The Crusaders were tough – but they had no monopoly on political violence. Murders within Muslim hierarchies were relatively common too.
Getting High in the Middle Ages: Drug Use in Medieval Egypt
In recent years, a contentious debate has emerged regarding how society should address drugs such as marijuana. Should they be legalized and accepted? What are the harms or benefits associated with these drugs? Interestingly, similar questions were raised in medieval Egypt.
New Medieval Books: Alexandria
A history of this Egyptian metropolis from its founding by Alexander the Great to our own day. Close to a hundred pages are devoted to the medieval era.
The Battle of Ramla (1102): High-Watermark of the Egyptian Army
The Fatimid Egyptian empire fielded one of the most overlooked forces in the crusading period.
How to Live in Cairo in the Year 1000 and Why You Should Try
A day in the life of someone living in Cario in the year 1000. From baking bread in the courtyard to carving rock crystal to watching a shadow play, Professor Rustow enlightens us with a social history from medieval Egypt.
Medieval letter about ‘Voluntary enslavement’ discovered by historian
Could ever a person want to become a slave? A remarkable letter written over a thousand years ago reveals how a group of ten men were seriously considering doing just that, as they hoped to escape terrible prison conditions.
The Cairo Geniza and Medieval Global Trade
To what extent is global trade a new phenomenon? Documents from the Cairo Geniza, a cache of manuscripts from a medieval Egyptian synagogue, hold answers to this question, even if getting at them requires knowledge of multiple semitic languages, skill in paleography and bookkeeping worthy of medieval long-distance traders themselves.
Egyptian Hieroglyphs in Late Antiquity, with Jennifer Westerfeld
A conversation with Jennifer Westerfeld on the scripts used to write ancient Egyptian, especially hieroglyphs. Their last attested use was in the 390s AD, ending their long history in our period. Meanwhile, Greek, Roman, and Christian observers were developing their own theories about how the script worked, often quite fantastic, and reacted to texts inscribed in public spaces.
New Medieval Books: Egypt and the Mediterranean World
A collection of fifteen essays that look at Egypt’s history between the years 500 to 1000, as it transitions from being under Byzantine rule to Islamic rule.
Archives and Record Keeping in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean
We present three case-studies which showcase a diverse range of historical actors, exploring state record-keeping, the archival practices of religious scholars, and the preservation of legal documents, to illustrate the rich and complex archival history of this region.
True Crusader Crime: Muslim Murder and Political Drama
The crusaders were tough – but they had no monopoly on political violence. Murders within Muslim hierarchies were relatively common too.
The Medieval Arab Predecessors of Champollion
Ancient Egypt as the land of science and Mirabilia fascinated medieval Arab scholars. Many wrote serious studies on Egyptian culture and environment.
New Medieval Books: The Mamluk Sultanate: A History
A look at the Mamluks, the slave-soldiers who ruled Egypt, Syria and parts of Arabia from the mid-13th century to 1517. It focuses on the politics and governing of this medieval state.
What it was like to be a medieval physician
A look at the day-to-day problems of a medieval physician.
