Poverty and Charity in Medieval Islam - Mamluk Egypt, 1250–1517

The study of poverty and charity in Islamic history has made significant advances and Adam Sabra's book represents a full-length treatment of the subject. By focusing on Mamluk Cairo, the author explores the attitude of medieval Muslims to poverty - why and how did they give alms - and the experience of being poor in an Islamic society. He also considers the role of pious endowments (waqfs) in providing food, education and medical care to the poor of medieval Egypt. This is a fascinating account of a world far removed from the affairs of emirs and ulama usually the traditional province of Mamluk studies. This trend, in conjunction with the comparisons the author affords of poverty and destitution in Europe and China during the same period, will entice a broad range of scholars from within the field and beyond.

Sommario

List of tables; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. Poverty: ideas and realities; 3. Begging and almsgiving; 4. Waqf; 5. Standards of living; 6. Food shortages and famines; 7. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Riassunto

Adam Sabra explores poverty and charity in medieval Islamic society. Thus he sheds light on a world far removed from elite society, hitherto the province of Mamluk studies. This trend, in conjunction with comparisons between the Islamic world, Europe and China, will entice scholars from within the field and beyond.

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Adam Sabra, Adam Abdelhamid Sabra, Sabra Adam
• Con la collaborazione di: David Morgan (Editore)
• Editore: Cambridge Academic
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pubblicazione: 21.12.2000
• EAN: 9780521772914
• ISBN: 978-0-521-77291-4
• Dimensioni: 157 mm x 229 mm x 18 mm
• Peso: 450 g
• Illustrazioni: 16 tables, Tabellen, nicht spezifiziert
• Serie: Cambridge Studies in Islamic C; Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization
• Categorie: Saggistica > Politica, società, economia > Politica; Scienze naturali, medicina, informatica, tecnica > Geoscienze > Geografia; Asia, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Poverty & Homelessness, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, Egypt, HISTORY / World, HISTORY / Africa / North, Poverty & unemployment, General & world history, CE period up to c 1500, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500, African History, General and world history, c 500 to c 1000 CE, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, Poverty and precarity, African history: pre-colonial period