Shaping A Muslim State The World Of A Mideighthcentury Egyptian Official

Shaping A Muslim State The World Of A Mideighthcentury Egyptian Official

By Petra M. Sijpesteijn

Book Description

This scholarly exploration invites readers to witness the profound transformation of a society as it embraces a new spiritual and political framework. Through a remarkable collection of Arabic papyrus letters from 730-750 AD, discovered in Egypt's Fayyum oasis, readers gain intimate access to the daily experiences of people navigating the transition from Byzantine rule to Islamic governance.

The correspondence reveals how ordinary individuals adapted their lives as Islamic principles reshaped their community structures, economic practices, and social relationships. Rather than presenting this transformation as a simple conquest narrative, the work illuminates the complex process by which ancient traditions merged with emerging Islamic values to create something entirely new.

For those interested in understanding how spiritual movements translate into lived reality, this study offers valuable insights into the practical challenges and opportunities that arise when communities embrace transformative change. The letters provide authentic voices from history, showing how people balanced respect for their heritage with openness to new ways of organizing society.

By examining governance, social dynamics, and economic systems through the lens of these personal documents, readers discover how individual choices and community responses shape the broader trajectory of spiritual and cultural evolution. This detailed analysis demonstrates how profound change occurs not through dramatic upheaval alone, but through countless daily decisions made by people seeking to live meaningfully within evolving circumstances.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~15 hours)

📄 Length: 524 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Papyri
  • ✓ Explore Sources
  • ✓ Explore Arabic language
  • ✓ Explore Civilization
  • ✓ Explore Egypt, civilization
  • ✓ Explore Egypt, religion
  • ✓ Explore Manuscripts, Arabic (Papyri)
  • ✓ Explore Correspondence

Topics Covered

Papyri Sources Arabic language Civilization Egypt, civilization Egypt, religion Manuscripts, Arabic (Papyri) Correspondence Islam Arabic Paleography Egypt, history History Religion Islam, egypt

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