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Chapter 2 - At the Crossroads of Regional Settings: Egypt, 500–1000 CE

from Part I - Political and Administrative Connections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2022

By
Yaacov Lev
Edited by
Jelle Bruning ,
Janneke H. M. de Jong  and
Petra M. Sijpesteijn
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Summary

Interlocked within two maritime and two terrestrial settings, Egypt’s geopolitical position has been important for its historical development. This chapter focuses on internal developments in Egypt which, although related to its geopolitical position, were mostly influenced by the evolution of the Muslim polity. The discussion attempts to highlight Egypt’s uniqueness as well as the province’s integration within the broader political structure of the caliphate. While the question of integration can be approached from many different angles, my preference has been to focus on some longue durée trends that reflect both Egypt’s geography and the changes related to the emergence of Islam and the consolidation of its power.

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Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean World
From Constantinople to Baghdad, 500-1000 CE
 , pp. 46 - 72
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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