Mamluk Power
Sabine Lorca
Translator A AI
Publisher: Publifye
Summary
Mamluk Power explores the intriguing story of the Mamluks, slave soldiers who rose to rule Egypt and Syria, shaping the Medieval Middle East. The book examines how this military elite, originating as enslaved warriors, established a powerful sultanate and played a crucial role in repelling the Mongol invasions, preventing widespread destruction in the region. It delves into the unique Mamluk system, a self-perpetuating society that recruited and rigorously trained young, non-Muslim slaves, converting them to Islam and molding them into formidable soldiers. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the Mamluk Sultanate's military organization, political structure, and cultural contributions, arguing that the Mamluks were not only a strong military force but also sophisticated political actors who adapted to maintain power. It uses Arabic chronicles and recent scholarship to offer a nuanced view of Mamluk society. The narrative unfolds chronologically, first introducing the origins of the Mamluk system, then examining the consolidation of their rule, including key battles like Ain Jalut, and finally analyzing the internal and external factors that led to the Sultanate's decline.
