Towards a Shi`i Mediterranean Empire: Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo (Ismaili Texts and Translations)

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The caliph Al-Mu'izz li Din Allah, founder of Cairo, transformed the emergent Fatimid state from a regional power of limited influence to an impressive Mediterranean empire whose authority extended from the shores of the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Al-Mu'izz (r. 953-75), the dynamic fourth Fatimid caliph, was a ruler whose vision and energy defined the high water mark of Fatimid ambition. Among his crowning achievements was the conquest of Egypt, a cherished goal of the Fatimids, which they governed for over two centuries. The writings of the erudite 13th/14th century Sunni Mamluk scholar al-Maqrizi, presented here for the first time in English, document this Fatimid triumph of the Shi'i, and provide one of the most comprehensive accounts of the era. Al-Maqrizi's Lessons for the Seekers of Truth in the History of the Fatimid Imams and Caliphs is a particularly valuable resource for research into the Fatimid dynasty, being compiled from a range of sources many of which are no longer extant. The author of the text shows a discernment regarding the value and limitations of his sources that is unusual among medieval Muslim historians. Moreover, he records official documents, letters and sermons in their entirety, often making his writings the only available source for this material. Shainool Jiwa's careful translation of such a rare work makes a notable contribution to one of the most fascinating periods in medieval Islamic history.

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Shainool Jiwa is a specialist in the Fatimid era and Head of the Department of Community Relations at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. She holds degrees from McGill University and the University of Edinburgh, and is the author of several papers and articles in the field of medieval Islamic history.