Yaʿaqov Le v. Livres

The rise of Saladin to power in Egypt is a chapter of both Mediterranean and Islamic history. In the period covered by this study, the second half of the twelfth century, profound changes took place in the Eastern Mediterranean affecting the history of the region. The book is divided into two parts. The first deals with the rise of Saladin to power in Egypt (1169-1174) and offers a new interpretation for the demise of the Fatimid state. The second part deals with topics such as the formation of Saladin's army in Egypt, the creation of the navy and the role of the navy in the battle for Acre. The author also addresses topics such as the religious policies of Saladin in Egypt and his attitudes toward the non-Muslim communities.

This volume focusses on the interplay between war and society in the Eastern Mediterranean, in a period which witnessed the Arab conquests, the Seljuk invasion, the Crusades, and the Mongol incursions. The military aspects of these momentous events have not been fully discussed so far. For the first time this book offers a synthesis of trends in military technology and its effect on society in the period from the Arab conquests to the establishment of an Ottoman hegemony. "War and Society in the Eastern Mediterranean" provides for medievalists an Oriental context to the military aspects of the Crusades, and for scholars of both Middle Eastern and military history a coherent treatment of an important topic over a long period and covering many different cultures.

Fatimid history is a chapter of both Mediterranean and Islamic history. In the period covered by the book (10th-12th centuries) profound changes took place in the Eastern Mediterranean affecting the history of the region.Divided into three parts this study deals with the political history of the Fatimid period, the structure of the Fatimid state and the interplay between state and society.The book is a contribution to the study of Islamic military history addressing such topics the formation and upkeep of black slave armies, the role of Christian-Armenian troops in twelfth-century Egypt and military and naval aspects of the Fatimid wars with the Crusaders. Other topics examined are the internal policies of the Fatimid notably, among them, the religious policies of the Fatimid regime, the involvement of the state in the urban life of the Fatimid capital city, Fustat-Cairo, and Fatimid attitudes toward non-Muslim communities.

This volume focuses on the interplay between urban society and material culture in the medieval and Ottoman Middle East. The history of Jerusalem in the middle ages is discussed by a number of papers as well as Mamluk Tripoli and the urban history of Palestine during the Crusades. The multi-role of the cadi in the Muslim city is illuminated by two studies cases concerning the Fatimid and Mamluk periods. Three aspects of material culture; the production and spread of paper, textiles and the trade in medicinal substances also are dealt with.