Christians and Muslims in early Islamic Egypt
By Lajos Berkes
This scholarly collection illuminates a fascinating chapter in religious history, examining how Christian and Muslim communities navigated daily life together in Egypt during the transformative centuries following the Islamic conquest in 642 CE through the tenth century.
Drawing from an impressive array of ancient documents written in Greek, Coptic, and Arabic, this volume reveals the complex realities of interfaith coexistence during a pivotal period of transition. Rather than focusing solely on theological differences or political conflicts, these studies explore the practical dimensions of how two major faith traditions intersected in administrative offices, marketplaces, and neighborhoods.
The research transcends traditional academic boundaries by examining papyrus documents that capture authentic voices from this era. Readers discover how Egyptian Christians adapted to new Muslim governmental structures while maintaining their religious identity, and how administrative practices evolved as different cultural and spiritual traditions merged.
The collection addresses essential questions about religious continuity and change, exploring how communities preserved their heritage while embracing new realities. Through careful analysis of naming conventions and linguistic shifts, the studies trace the gradual transformation of Egyptian society.
For those interested in understanding how different faith communities can coexist and influence each other, this volume offers valuable insights into a historical period that shaped both Christian and Islamic civilizations. The book includes newly edited translations of twenty-three original papyrus documents, providing direct access to voices from this remarkable era of religious and cultural exchange.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Relations
- ✓ Explore Musulmans
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Sources
- ✓ Explore Manuscripts (Papyri)
- ✓ Explore Histoire
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2022
- Publisher
- American Society of Papyrologists
- ISBN-13
- 9780979975899
- ISBN-10
- 0979975891
- Pages
- 213
- Language
- EN
