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Mamlukes introduced in
Egypt as slaves imported from
the Black Sea region,were raised as mercenary soldiers. Baybars, a mamluke commanders seized power after the murder of
Shagarat ad-Durr, however his children were murdered by Qalawun
another Mamluke who established the Bahrian Mamluke Dynasty, named
after the Mamluke garrison along the Nile River ( Bahr al-Nil).
Sultan Qalawun intrested in architecture, constructed
mosques, fortresses and other buildings in Cairo.
Qalawun established relations with many foreign countries in
Europe, Africa and Asia. His son, Mohammed al-Nasir also interested
in architecture but his most famous accomplishment was
defeating the Mongol armies. The Circassian Mamluke Barquq took over power
and established the Burgia, Mamluke dynasty, named after the Mamluke garrison set beneath the citadel in Cairo. Barquq continued
his campaigns against the Mongols to drive them out of the Near East
.
The success of these campaigns cost Egypt its economy. Conditions
worsened as a result of plague that swept through the country during
he reign of Barquq's son Farag. It was not until the reign of
Barsbay that Egypt regained its power. Barsbay recognized the rising
power and potential threat of the Ottoman Turks and established good
relations with them. The Mamluke economy remained unstable
especially after European traders began using the Cape of good Hope
for their spice trade rather than trading through Cairo.
The end of the Mamluke reign came during the reign of Tuman bey who was
executed by the Ottomans. The Mamlukes however remained a powerful
force within Egypt throughout the Ottoman period . |
