Jamal al-Din Shayyal
The History of Alexandria during the Islamic Period
Type
abstract
Year
2014
الشيال، جمال الدين. تاريخ مدينة الإسكندرية في العصر الإسلامي. الإسكندرية: دار المعارف، ١٩٦۷، ٢٠٤ص
Shayyal, Jamal al-Din. Tarikh Madinat al-Iskandariyyah. Alexandria: Dar al-Ma‘arif, 1967, 204pp.
ABSTRACT
The History of Alexandria during the Islamic Period
تاريخ مدينة الإسكندرية في العصر الإسلامي
This book attempts to “shed new light” upon the history of one of the most important Islamic cities. It illustrates Alexandria’s outstanding cultural role during the Islamic period, in addition to being a centre of economic and military activities and counters the belief that this period was an era of decline and backwardness.
In his general introduction, the author discusses the considerable efforts spent tracking down the extremely limited number of works written about Alexandria’s history, and his attempts at gaining access to them. The author also explains the academic value of such efforts.
The introduction to the book focuses on the conditions in Alexandria during ancient times, and the planning of the town during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, along with its neighbourhoods and most important landmarks. It then moves on to the arrival of Christianity and its spread during the Byzantine period, mentioning the most important churches and monasteries established in the town, as well as the growth of doctrinal disputes and the monastic movement.
The book covers the appearance of Islam in Alexandria following the town’s conquest by the army of Amru ibn al-‘As. It also explores the rebuilding of the town’s walls and the erection of various mosques and governmental buildings at that time. It covers Alexandria under the Fatimids and Ayyubids. It discusses Alexandria’s scientific, architectural and military importance as well as its domestic and foreign trade during the time of Salah al-Din. In addition to this, it also discusses developments undergone by the town during the period of Salah al-Din’s successors, including al-‘Aziz ‘Uthman and al-Malik al-Kamil Muhammad, as well as the travellers and historians who visited Alexandria, such as the historian Abu Shama and the traveller ‘Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi.
Before tackling briefly the Ottoman period and the French Campaign, the book has a section on the Mamluk period, covering the rule of Baybar, Qalawun, and al-Ashraf Sha‘ban.
This book distinguishes itself by its sound references; the author has sought to reference all of the information used in minute detail, through footnotes found on many pages and the bibliography at the back of the book. The volume also contains an appendix with twenty photos of some of the mosques and historical sites in Alexandria, even if most of these are not clear.
Many important events are not dealt with in this book, the most prominent of which is the establishment of the Library of Alexandria during the Ptolemaic dynasty and its burning, despite the Hellenistic period being covered by the author. Nevertheless, in general the work remains a good source for additional information on the history of Alexandria during the Islamic period, an era which has not received its fair share of studies due to the scarcity of available references.
Dahlia Sabry
Translated by Hugh Lovatt
Citation
Sabry, Dahlia. “English abstract of 'The History of Alexandria during the Islamic Period'". Translated by Hugh Lovatt. In Cities as Built and Lived Environments: Scholarship from Muslim Contexts, 1875 to 2011, by Aptin Khanbaghi, 133. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2014.
Authorities
Collections
Copyright
Muslim Civilisations Abstracts - The Aga Khan University
Country
Egypt
Language
English
Related Documents
The History of Alexandria during the Islamic Period
Type
abstract
Year
2014
الشيال، جمال الدين. تاريخ مدينة الإسكندرية في العصر الإسلامي. الإسكندرية: دار المعارف، ١٩٦۷، ٢٠٤ص
Shayyal, Jamal al-Din. Tarikh Madinat al-Iskandariyyah. Alexandria: Dar al-Ma‘arif, 1967, 204pp.
ABSTRACT
The History of Alexandria during the Islamic Period
تاريخ مدينة الإسكندرية في العصر الإسلامي
This book attempts to “shed new light” upon the history of one of the most important Islamic cities. It illustrates Alexandria’s outstanding cultural role during the Islamic period, in addition to being a centre of economic and military activities and counters the belief that this period was an era of decline and backwardness.
In his general introduction, the author discusses the considerable efforts spent tracking down the extremely limited number of works written about Alexandria’s history, and his attempts at gaining access to them. The author also explains the academic value of such efforts.
The introduction to the book focuses on the conditions in Alexandria during ancient times, and the planning of the town during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, along with its neighbourhoods and most important landmarks. It then moves on to the arrival of Christianity and its spread during the Byzantine period, mentioning the most important churches and monasteries established in the town, as well as the growth of doctrinal disputes and the monastic movement.
The book covers the appearance of Islam in Alexandria following the town’s conquest by the army of Amru ibn al-‘As. It also explores the rebuilding of the town’s walls and the erection of various mosques and governmental buildings at that time. It covers Alexandria under the Fatimids and Ayyubids. It discusses Alexandria’s scientific, architectural and military importance as well as its domestic and foreign trade during the time of Salah al-Din. In addition to this, it also discusses developments undergone by the town during the period of Salah al-Din’s successors, including al-‘Aziz ‘Uthman and al-Malik al-Kamil Muhammad, as well as the travellers and historians who visited Alexandria, such as the historian Abu Shama and the traveller ‘Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi.
Before tackling briefly the Ottoman period and the French Campaign, the book has a section on the Mamluk period, covering the rule of Baybar, Qalawun, and al-Ashraf Sha‘ban.
This book distinguishes itself by its sound references; the author has sought to reference all of the information used in minute detail, through footnotes found on many pages and the bibliography at the back of the book. The volume also contains an appendix with twenty photos of some of the mosques and historical sites in Alexandria, even if most of these are not clear.
Many important events are not dealt with in this book, the most prominent of which is the establishment of the Library of Alexandria during the Ptolemaic dynasty and its burning, despite the Hellenistic period being covered by the author. Nevertheless, in general the work remains a good source for additional information on the history of Alexandria during the Islamic period, an era which has not received its fair share of studies due to the scarcity of available references.
Dahlia Sabry
Translated by Hugh Lovatt
Citation
Sabry, Dahlia. “English abstract of 'The History of Alexandria during the Islamic Period'". Translated by Hugh Lovatt. In Cities as Built and Lived Environments: Scholarship from Muslim Contexts, 1875 to 2011, by Aptin Khanbaghi, 133. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2014.
Authorities
Collections
Copyright
Muslim Civilisations Abstracts - The Aga Khan University
Country
Egypt
Language
English
Related Documents