Cairo Under the Mamlūks: From Urban Development to the Cultural-Religious Metropolis of the Islamic World

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Zeinab Fazli

Assistant Professor at the Department of History of Islamic Culture and Civilization, Faculty of Theology, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22067/jhistory.2025.96197.1413

Abstract

During the pre-modern era and parallel to widespread political transformations, cities all over the Islamic world (even those serving as centers of civilization) underwent significant changes, to the point that their position shifted in the political, social, and cultural-civilizational geography of the Islamic world or among neighboring regions. This holds true for the city of Cairo, the most important Islamic city in North Africa. The present article employs the historical urban studies approach and seeks to examine the significant historical developments that influenced the appearance, structure, and identity of Cairo during the Mamlūk era (648-923 A.H./1250-1517 A.D.), influenced by the Mamlūk rulers Baḥrī and Burjī. The findings indicate that with the emergence of the Mamlūk state, Cairo initiated a distinct phase in its urban history during which it solidified and enhanced its cultural and religious centrality within the Islamic world.  While Qalaʿat al-jibal served as the administrative and political center of Mamlūk Cairo, the city experienced physical and environmental development and previously disparate areas were integrated. The flourishing of areas such as Bulaq and their incorporation into Mamlūk Cairo, as well as numerous noble residences, bazaars, bathhouses, caravanserais, and commercial shops, transformed Mamlūk Cairo into one of the largest cities of its time.  In this context, Cairo superseded Baghdad in terms of status and importance, thanks to sustained security and the presence of survivors from the Abbasid dynasty. In addition, the city transformed into the focal point of aspiration for Sūnnī Muslims thanks to the flourishing of educational institutions, an increase in the number of khānqāhs (Sūfī lodges), and the concentration of leading scholars and intellectuals from across the Islamic world in the city.

Keywords

Muslim Urbanization

Mamlūk Cairo

Mamlūks

Qalaʿat al-jibal

Birkat al-Fīl

Bulaq

Subjects

• History of Islamic Civilization

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