The Fatimid period was the golden age of Ismaili thought and literature. Ismaili imams ruled over vast areas of the Muslim world as the Fatimid caliphs and the Ismaili made important contributions to Islamic civilization. During this period a multitude of eminent Ismaili thinkers developed unique intellectual doctrines with a diversity of philosophical traditions; and subsequently Cairo; the Fatimid capital; became a centre of Islamic culture and art and a focus of scholarship and science. This book investigates the Fatimids' varied contribution to Islamic civilization and their patronage of learning. The topics discussed range from the teaching activities of the Ismaili missionaries; the "sessions of wisdom" and other traditions of learning; to al-Hakim's "House of Knowledge" and other academic and scientific institutions founded in Fatimid Egypt.
#5308105 in Books Tauris Academic Studies 2011-08-15 2011-07-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.84 x 1.11 x 5.78l; 1.10 #File Name: 1848857284304 pages
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Good information but a bit of a slog for most readers.By lyndonbrechtThis is an academic study; so be prepared for that kind of writing. As an academic study it is rather good; but much of the book is a sort of argument about what can be determined from original sources. The book examines whether the historical interpretation of the French-Ottoman alliance is a product of Hapsburg propaganda (the Hapsburgs were often opponents of both French and Ottomans). That examination will be of little interest to most readers.It is not really a history of events; which could make for a lively read--Christian army and Muslim navy attack Italian city. It covers some events in passing. The typical reader should probably pass on this book; unless the subject is of great interest. As an academic type; I slogged on through.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Acceptable introductionBy Elizabeth StarkeyAs an avid reader of history books; I know they don't have to be dry and monotonous. Unfortunately; this one is. It reads more like a Masters thesis than anything; and at the end of the day; doesn't cover much ground (185 pages of book and another 50 or so of notes). The premise is simple: we forget that Ottomans engaged with European powers prior to the--apparently well-mannered and widely accepted--wintering of their fleet on the French coast. That we've forgotten is the result of Habsburg propaganda; there's not a lot of expansion on the "how" behind this point; it's mostly just repeated constantly throughout the text. We also get a long digression on Cem; the main point of which; again; is that there were Ottomans in Western European prior to the titular alliance. It's a fast read; but with a steep cover price and no profound insights; you might be better off just consulting Wikipedia.
