The Fatimids - (Dynasties) by Delia Cortese (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A concise history of the enormously powerful and influential Shi'i caliphate.

The Fatimids (909-1171) built an empire that included North Africa, Egypt, and parts of Sicily, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. Theirs is the only Muslim dynasty known by a woman's name, Fatima, the Prophet Muhammad's daughter. The Fatimids promoted women to unprecedented positions of authority and visibility in Islamic history. From Cairo, which they founded in 969, this Shi'i dynasty fostered cultural and artistic excellence as well as cultural tolerance and prosperity across the empire. Drawing on a wealth of historical sources, the book tells both the historical and ongoing influence of the Fatimids on global culture.

Review Quotes

"Cortese's book on the origin and history of the Fatimids sheds fresh light on such special aspects as the court life, culture, arts and the role of women and tells the story of the strange regime and sudden disappearance of the enigmatic caliph al-Hakim. A fascinating new view on one of the most dramatic epochs in the history of the Near East."--Heinz Halm, author of 'The Shi?ites: A Short History'

About the Author

Delia Cortese is a senior research fellow of Middlesex University, London. Her books include Women and the Fatimids in the World of Islam.