First, I'd like to ask of you kindly read the first episode before
reading this new one. It is msg number 2832 or
here's the link to the msg.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaharaSafaris/message/2832
Please send me your feedback and feel free to comments
Amr bin Al-3as successfully ended his campaign in Egypt in the year
20 H (641 AD) when the Islamic army defeated the Romans in
Alexandria the last of the Roman cities and the largest (being the
Roman capital of Egypt and all). He hence begun to reorganise the
country so that it befits the new era. Among his first priorities
were setting a new power seat for the country; a place where the
army would barrak; Amr bin Al-3as had to bear in mind two things.
Firstly, Omar bin Al-Khatab (khalif at the time) forbode him of
setteling in Alexandria. As Omar had sent special heralds (rasol) to
all his army generals and conquestors (Amr bin Al-3as in Egypt, Saad
bin Wakas in Persia, and a third commander; who's name was lost in
the days and nights of history; who then settelled in Basra and is
reffered to in historry book simply by 3amel Al-Basra) that they
should settele only on virgin land (land that is not owned).
Secondly, as also ordered by Omar bin Al-Khatab that he shouldn't
allow water (rivers and the such) between his men and Al-Madina Al-
Monawara.
The Selection of the Location:
Due to the Khalief's recomendations in addition to stratigic and
logistic reasons the Moslems abandoned Alexandria as the capital of
Egypt. It was then that Amr bin Al-3as remembered the valley that
the army setteled in when they were besieging the famous Roman fort
of Babylon.
Two reasons made this location favorable. The first, is that oppsing
that valley on the western shore was Manf (the ancient Egyptian
Capital) and Amr like to build Kanatir to bridge those shore so that
he may bridge what was seperated by centuries and generations. The
second reason was the true cause of calling the city as such (Al-
Fustat). As the Islamic army defeated the Romans in the fort of
Babylon the were planing an attack upon Alexandria as their tents
were dismantelled (taken down), and one of the workers noticed that
Amr's Fustat (meaning tent when translated from Classic Arabic)
housed a nest of a pegion that had laid a couple of eggs. It was
then that Amr bin Al-3as ordered that his tent would be left behind
for the pegion and he asked one of his workers to stay behind and
take care of it as the army marshed out north. Upon victory in
Alexandria Amr ordered his men to go back to that valley and as the
soldiers inquired about their destination their sargents replied "to
Al-Fustat" refering to Amr's tent, yet it came to pass as the name
of the new city.
What started as a mere army camp soon grew in terms of agriculture,
trade, economic and social aspects. Therefore housing the Egyptian
principality as prince after prince took it as his power seat from
which he staurd the affairs of the country. Even after the
construction of Al-3askar, Al-Katae3 and Qahirat Al-Mo3iz that Al-
Fustat remained the major economic and cultural center of the
country as it was enriched by massive architectural marvels that
helped it become an international city in the terms of those days.
In the next episode read about the fire of Al-Fustat and the
begining of urban planning of the city.
Cheers ; )
The Story of Victorious... Part Deux : Al-Fustat.
First, I'd like to ask of you kindly read the first episode before
reading this new one. It is msg number 2832 or
here's the link to the msg.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaharaSafaris/message/2832
Please send me your feedback and feel free to comments
Amr bin Al-3as successfully ended his campaign in Egypt in the year
20 H (641 AD) when the Islamic army defeated the Romans in
Alexandria the last of the Roman cities and the largest (being the
Roman capital of Egypt and all). He hence begun to reorganise the
country so that it befits the new era. Among his first priorities
were setting a new power seat for the country; a place where the
army would barrak; Amr bin Al-3as had to bear in mind two things.
Firstly, Omar bin Al-Khatab (khalif at the time) forbode him of
setteling in Alexandria. As Omar had sent special heralds (rasol) to
all his army generals and conquestors (Amr bin Al-3as in Egypt, Saad
bin Wakas in Persia, and a third commander; who's name was lost in
the days and nights of history; who then settelled in Basra and is
reffered to in historry book simply by 3amel Al-Basra) that they
should settele only on virgin land (land that is not owned).
Secondly, as also ordered by Omar bin Al-Khatab that he shouldn't
allow water (rivers and the such) between his men and Al-Madina Al-
Monawara.
The Selection of the Location:
Due to the Khalief's recomendations in addition to stratigic and
logistic reasons the Moslems abandoned Alexandria as the capital of
Egypt. It was then that Amr bin Al-3as remembered the valley that
the army setteled in when they were besieging the famous Roman fort
of Babylon.
Two reasons made this location favorable. The first, is that oppsing
that valley on the western shore was Manf (the ancient Egyptian
Capital) and Amr like to build Kanatir to bridge those shore so that
he may bridge what was seperated by centuries and generations. The
second reason was the true cause of calling the city as such (Al-
Fustat). As the Islamic army defeated the Romans in the fort of
Babylon the were planing an attack upon Alexandria as their tents
were dismantelled (taken down), and one of the workers noticed that
Amr's Fustat (meaning tent when translated from Classic Arabic)
housed a nest of a pegion that had laid a couple of eggs. It was
then that Amr bin Al-3as ordered that his tent would be left behind
for the pegion and he asked one of his workers to stay behind and
take care of it as the army marshed out north. Upon victory in
Alexandria Amr ordered his men to go back to that valley and as the
soldiers inquired about their destination their sargents replied "to
Al-Fustat" refering to Amr's tent, yet it came to pass as the name
of the new city.
What started as a mere army camp soon grew in terms of agriculture,
trade, economic and social aspects. Therefore housing the Egyptian
principality as prince after prince took it as his power seat from
which he staurd the affairs of the country. Even after the
construction of Al-3askar, Al-Katae3 and Qahirat Al-Mo3iz that Al-
Fustat remained the major economic and cultural center of the
country as it was enriched by massive architectural marvels that
helped it become an international city in the terms of those days.
In the next episode read about the fire of Al-Fustat and the
begining of urban planning of the city.
Cheers ; )