Al Qata I

"Al-Qata'i' is a historical novel set in Egypt over several periods of time and explores the legacy of Ibn Tulun, who ruled Egypt in the 9th century. Inspired by Ibn Tulun's mosque, which still stands as the largest in Cairo and one of the oldest in Africa, the story takes place in and around the smaller cities that were the historic precursors to Cairo in the 9th and 10th centuries, Fustat, Qata'i, and Giza. Ibn Tulun built the city of Al-Qata'i and its mosque as a city where people of multiple beliefs could live together. Bassiouney's novel brings this period of time to life through vivid descriptions and by showing the everyday struggles of people of the time period. These are woven together with scenes from 1918 and 1919 which represent the modern discovery of the historic Tulunid mosque and adjoining houses and function as a narrative bridge between the events of the 9th and 10th centuries and today, showing how this period could present a model for Egyptian harmony today. The structure of the novel is similar to Bassiouney's last novel, Sons of the People. It takes place over three periods in time across three connected sets of characters and is thus in three parts: "Maisoon," "Ahmad's Dream," and "The Pledge." The first part gives a glimpse of life in Egypt before Ibn Tulun arrives. At the start it is very bleak, with a despotic regime ruling Egypt. It ends with Ibn Tulun's rise to power. Part Two relates three different perspectives on Ahmed Ibn Tulun. For Bassiouney, Ibn Tulun was a visionary, uniting Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Arab elements of Egyptian society into his army and the city of Qata'i. This part develops several story lines, including a love story. Part Three recounts the story of Aisha, daughter of Ibn Tulun, after his death. Bassiouney's novels have been praised for their inclusion of strong women characters and focus on viewpoints not often seen in Arab literature and this novel includes a similar focus on women characters"--

An award-winning novelist’s vibrant portrayal of the struggle to create a more unified society in medieval Egypt and how this has shaped Egypt today. Brimming with intrigue, adventure, and romance, Al-Qata’i: Ibn Tulun’s City Without Walls tells the epic story of visionary Egyptian leader Ahmad Ibn Tulun who built Al-Qata’i (now Cairo) into a thriving multicultural empire. The novel begins with the rediscovery of the Ibn Tulun Mosque in 1918 and recounts Ibn Tulun’s life and legacy in the ninth and tenth centuries. Bassiouney presents Ibn Tulun’s benevolent vision to unify all Egyptians in a new city, Al-Qata’i. He becomes so focused on his vision, however, that he cannot see the impact it has on his family or the fate of Egypt. When a betrayal leads to his demise, the rival Abbasid caliph threatens to regain control of Al-Qata’i. In the aftermath of Ibn Tulun’s death, his daughter Aisha emerges as a pivotal figure, bravely taking a stand against the Abbasids to preserve her life, the city, and the iconic mosque. This contemporary Egyptian writer forces us to consider universal themes, such as diversity and equality, through both a historical and intercultural lens that enriches our understanding of these issues in our world today.

This Handbook simultaneously provides a single text that narrates the Cairo of yesterday and of today, and gives the reader a major reference to the best of Cairo scholarship. Divided into three parts covering Histories, Representations and Discourses of Cairo, the chapters provide comprehensive coverage of Cairo from both a disciplinary and an interdisciplinary point of view, with scholars from a great range of disciplines. Part One contains chapters on the history of specific parts of the city to provide both a concise picture of Cairo and an appreciation for the diversity of its constituent parts and periods. Part Two of the book deals with the various forms of representations of the city, from high-end literature to popular songs, and from photographs to films. Finally, Part Three covers current discourses about the city, comprising historical reflections on the city from the present, surveys of its current condition, analysis of it serious urban problems and visions for its future. The Routledge Handbook on Cairo provides a unique and innovative look at the ever-evolving state of Cairo. It will be a vital reference source for scholars and students of Middle Eastern Studies, Middle East History, Cultural Studies, Urban Studies, Architecture and Politics.

In 2011, the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin celebrated the 100th anniversary of the German excavations of the Islamic-medieval site Samarra. The former Abbasid capital (836-892 A.D.) around 125 km north of Bagdad is one of the largest archaeological ruins in the world and one of the key sites in the field of Islamic art and archaeology. The excavations led by Ernst Herzfeld and Friedrich Sarre between 1911 and 1913 represent a primary moment in the establishment of the field. Today, a hundred years later, our knowledge on Abbasid art has widened immensely. This volume includes papers given at an international symposium organised by the EHG together with the Museum of Islamic ARt from June 30 to July 02, 2011 to discuss the latest state of research on the former Abbasid city and its impact on Islamic art. Articles touch the history of the excavations, the city of Samarra and its finds as well as other recently studied Abbasid sites.

This thematic travel guide explores the intellectual, scientific and cultural heritage seen in Mamluk architecture and decorative arts through eight suggested travel itineraries. Seven of these are one-day trips, one being two-days, around Cairo and the northern cities of Alexandria, Rosetta and Fuwa in Lower Egypt. Maps, plans and colour photographs feature prominently and the itineraries are preceded by three thematic essays providing the historical background.

Ahmad ibn Tulun (835-84), the son of a Turkic slave in the Abbasid court of Baghdad, became the founder of the first independent state in Egypt since antiquity, and builder of Egypt's short-lived third capital of the Islamic era, al-Qata'i' and its great congregational mosque. After recounting the story of Ibn Tulun and his successors, architectural historian Tarek Swelim presents a topographic survey of al-Qata'i', a city lost since its complete destruction in 905. He then provides a detailed architectural analysis of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, which was spared the destruction and is now the oldest surviving mosque in Egypt and Africa, from the time of its completion until today. Rare archival illustrations and early photographs document the changing appearance and uses of the mosque in modern times, while extraordinary 3D computer renderings take us back in time to recreate its architectural development through its early centuries. Plans, drawings, and maps complement the history, while striking modern color photographs showcase the elegant simplicity of the building's architecture and decoration. This definitive and generously illustrated book will appeal to scholars and students of Islamic art history, as well as to anyone interested in or inspired by the beauty of early mosque architecture.