Egypt and Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Eras: Proceedings of the 1st, 2nd 3rd International Colloquium [sic] Organized at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in May 1992, 1993 and 1994

Egypt and Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Eras: Proceedings of the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd International Colloquium [sic] Organized at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in May 1992, 1993 and 1994. Edited by U. VERMEULEN and D. DE StET. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta, vol. 73. Louvain: PEETERS, 1996. Pp. 371. FB 2600.

As the title suggests, this book brings together twenty-three articles, in English, French, and German, based on presentations to three international symposiums on the subject of medieval Egypt and Syria held in three consecutive years. Nine of the articles are on the Fatimids, six on the Ayyubids, and eight on the Mamluks. The volume thus covers a period of over five centuries (969-1517).

The volume brings together articles from different domains, namely, history (which forms the majority of contributions), art and architecture, literature and poetry, and religious matters. This is at the same time an advantage and a disadvantage. The reader may get a broad perspective on a given period, and will be able to make links between different subjects, and to connect various aspects of a certain...