Abstract

The narrative chronicles that document the Mamlūk Empire frequently mention the various pious endowments (sing. waqf, pl. awqāf) of their day. This institution’s importance to the social, political and economic spheres of the Mamlūk Empire is evident by the numerous treatises written about pious endowment and the impressive amount of endowed buildings built from the mid-thirteenth century till the early sixteenth century. This study intends to investigate why this institution became so pervasive during the Bahrī period (648-792 A.H./1250-1382 A.D.) by examining endowed institutions in their entirety. While investigating the endowments of Qalāwūnid sultans, this thesis argues that endowments were consciously employed in order to cultivate legitimacy, power, and patronage networks. Mamlūk pious endowments also provide insights into the land tenure system and power structure that began to change after the third reign of al-Nāṣir Muḥammad b. Qalāwūn (r. 709-41/1310-41). The employment of pious endowments by the Mamlūk elite to realize various goals illustrates the institutions flexibility and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances allowed for the institution’s longevity. These developments and the prevalence of endowments created a precedent for the Burjī Mamlūk period (784-923/1382-1517) which saw the “waqfization” of the land tenure system during the fifteenth century.

Department

Arab & Islamic Civilizations Department

Degree Name

MA in Arabic Studies

Graduation Date

2-1-2016

Submission Date

January 2016

First Advisor

Hanna, Nelly

Committee Member 1

Elbendary, Amina

Committee Member 2

Fernandes, Leonor

Extent

169 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Download

Share

COinS