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Tree of Pearls is a vivid exploration of the life of a singular woman who rose from slavery to become sultan of Egypt in the 13th century. Her achievements were the ending the Seventh Crusade, the inauguration of the Mamluk dynasty, and the building of innovative works of architecture that left an enduring mark on Cairo.
List of contents
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Note on Dates and Transliterations
- Chapter 1: Who Was "Tree of Pearls"
- Chapter 2: Sultans and Slaves: Salih's Rise to Power
- Chapter 3: The Streets of Cairo and the Salihiyya Madrasa
- Chapter 4: Crisis in Cairo: From Sultan to Sultan-Queen
- Chapter 5: Commemorative Architecture and Salih's "Blessed Mausoleum"
- Chapter 6: "If You Lack Men": the Shajar al-Durr's Abdication and Tomb
- Chapter 7: Matronage
- Appendix: Recipe for Umm 'Ali
- Bibliography
- Index
About the author
D. Fairchild Ruggles is Professor and Debra L. Mitchell Chair in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she also holds appointments in Art History, Architecture, Medieval Studies, Spanish and Portuguese, and Gender and Women's Studies. She is the author and presenter of short films on Islamic art for the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, and she is current art and architecture field editor for The Encyclopaedia of Islam.
Summary
Tree of Pearls is a vivid exploration of the life of a singular woman who rose from slavery to become sultan of Egypt in the 13th century. Her achievements were the ending the Seventh Crusade, the inauguration of the Mamluk dynasty, and the building of innovative works of architecture that left an enduring mark on Cairo.
Additional text
D. Fairchild Ruggles brings a different and refreshing sensibility to bear in this very interesting and rewarding book. Her exceptional scholarship and engaging style bring to life the most vivid character among the powerful women of the medieval Islamic world.
