The Cairo Geniza and Interfaith Relations in Medieval Egypt

Illustrated by documents and literary texts from the Cairo Genizah, this talk will examine interfaith relations in the Middle East during the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. We will explore how the Egyptian Muslim state legally and politically approached Christian and Jewish faith communities, and how relationships worked on the ground, such as in terms of mercantile connections, shared living quarters, friendships and intellectual collaboration.
Illustrated by documents and literary texts from the Cairo Genizah, this talk will examine interfaith relations in the Middle East during the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. We will explore how the Egyptian Muslim state legally and politically approached Christian and Jewish faith communities, and how relationships worked on the ground, such as in terms of mercantile connections, shared living quarters, friendships and intellectual collaboration.