Archive for the ‘Middle East’ Category

The Barbary coast: 16th – 20th century AD

With the decline of the local Berber dynasties in the 15th and 16th centuries, the valuable coastal strip of north Africa (known because of the Berbers as the Barbary coast) attracts the attention of the two most powerful Mediterranean states of the time – Spain in the west, Turkey in the east.

The Spanish-Turkish rivalry lasts for much of the 16th century, but it is gradually won – in a somewhat unorthodox manner – by the Turks. Their successful device is to allow Turkish pirates, or corsairs, to establish themselves along the coast. The territories seized by the corsairs are then given a formal status as protectorates of the Ottoman empire. Read the rest of this entry »

The British occupation had no physical changes on Cairo since the British had been ruling Egypt indirectly for years. Tawfik remained the khedive, the consular courts dealt justice, the administration was foreign and the British occupied the Citadel. They did need foreigners to help rule Cairo simply because they did not want the commerce in Cairo to be controlled by the Egyptians. However, it was very important that the city be organized by dependable people that were not Egyptian.

Lord Cromer was the man responsible for the consolidation of the absolute rule in Cairo. He became the British Agent in Egypt in 1883 and ruled Egypt for 24 years. Before this, he had been in control of the Public Debt in Cairo as British Commissioner. He was responsible for the manipulation that helped the British occupation of Egypt. He was also responsible for keeping the French, Belgians and Italians away from the Nile. Under Cromer, Cairo was a very political and social city. Read the rest of this entry »

He was willing to be governed by clerics, although at that time he was a respected head of state.

There is no denying the courage Harun ar-Rashid. Her attitude is so bold as to Nakfur until now adorn the history of Muslims. But, behind his famous very brave, she was melted in the presence of clergy. In fact, she came with her two children to Medina, purposely to listen to Imam Malik teaches his book, al-Muwattha ‘.

When he reached Medina, al-Barmaki, one helper (wazir) her, facing Imam Malik and said to him, “Get the book that you rock me, until I could read it from you to the king.”

Imam Malik replied, “Convey my regards and tell him, ‘Science should be visited not visited. Science must go, not go ‘. ”

Al-Barmaki was returned to the Caliph, saying, “O Amir al-Believers, have come to the Iraqi people, that His Majesty has been facing to the Imam Malik, and he left the king. Bulatkanlah Majesty’s determination against him, until he came to the king. ” Read the rest of this entry »