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Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology

 

 

Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World
Brown University
Box 1837 / 60 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3188
Fax: (401) 863-9423
[email protected]

The Ayyubid dynasty was founded by Salah Ad-Din (Saladin) in 1169 with the conquest of Egypt, although it was initially conquered for the Zengid kingdom. Salah ad-Din transformed Egypt into the strongest Muslim state of the times and it was armies under his control that fought and finally defeated the remnants of the Second Crusade and continued to fight and negotiate with the Christians of the Third Crusade, notable Richard the Lionhearted.

The Ayyubid dynasty valued the arts and education. It was under them that Al-Azhar Mosque became the premier Muslim institution of learning, and Egypt became the center of learning in the Muslim world.

The Ayyubid dynasty lasted from 1169 till 1260 and ruled over Egypt, Syria, Yemen, the Hejaz and northern Iraq.

Refer to the Wikipedia link for a map of lands held by the Ayyubid Dynasty [link]


Posted at Apr 10/2009 01:18PM:
ian: Great - one other detail is that it marks the prominence of Kurdish groups in the politics of the Muslim world.