Ibn Khaldun says that as the dynasties of his time, the greatest of them was that of the Turks in Egypt.
How stupidly immature.
What Ibn Khaldun is talking about is Mamluks (13th century rulers of United Syria and Egypt). Mamluks were Turkish Speaking warrior caste and they came from Asia Minor and Central Asia. (even today, most Turks are of Central Asian decent). They ruled Egypt for over a 100 years and prevented many other colonial powers (e.g., Persian Mongols) to occupy Egypt and saved it the fate of Baghdad (see, how things never really change.. Baghdad was wasted by Mongols in early 13th century and reduced to rubble. USA, today has pretty much the same ambitions concerning Baghdad). But here is an interesting element to the conquests of these times. Mamluks brought with them captured slaves from Black and Caspian seas (slaves are also called mumluks, but with the lower case “m”. In Arabic, both the Rulers and the Slaves are referred to as Mumluks). Mumluks then freed those slaves on one condition that they converted to Islam and fought in the battles to protect their rule.
This is one of ways the Islam was spread in Syria and Egypt. The other way was the Sufi movement. Perhaps some of you can shed some light onto why the Spread of Islam is connected to Slavery and Conquest. One would expect that the religion would stand up to what it means: “Peace”.
I think Islam was harmed more by the early warrior elements in the 9th thru 16 century than it is being harmed today by Mullahs. The only difference is that Mullahs now don’t enjoy as much Militaristic clout as compared to their predecessors. Those who do, e.g., Saddam or Osama bin Laden, should learn from history, because tyranny, fundamentalism and terrorism only last for brief periods of time.
How stupidly immature.
What Ibn Khaldun is talking about is Mamluks (13th century rulers of United Syria and Egypt). Mamluks were Turkish Speaking warrior caste and they came from Asia Minor and Central Asia. (even today, most Turks are of Central Asian decent). They ruled Egypt for over a 100 years and prevented many other colonial powers (e.g., Persian Mongols) to occupy Egypt and saved it the fate of Baghdad (see, how things never really change.. Baghdad was wasted by Mongols in early 13th century and reduced to rubble. USA, today has pretty much the same ambitions concerning Baghdad). But here is an interesting element to the conquests of these times. Mamluks brought with them captured slaves from Black and Caspian seas (slaves are also called mumluks, but with the lower case “m”. In Arabic, both the Rulers and the Slaves are referred to as Mumluks). Mumluks then freed those slaves on one condition that they converted to Islam and fought in the battles to protect their rule.
This is one of ways the Islam was spread in Syria and Egypt. The other way was the Sufi movement. Perhaps some of you can shed some light onto why the Spread of Islam is connected to Slavery and Conquest. One would expect that the religion would stand up to what it means: “Peace”.
I think Islam was harmed more by the early warrior elements in the 9th thru 16 century than it is being harmed today by Mullahs. The only difference is that Mullahs now don’t enjoy as much Militaristic clout as compared to their predecessors. Those who do, e.g., Saddam or Osama bin Laden, should learn from history, because tyranny, fundamentalism and terrorism only last for brief periods of time.
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