The Enigma of Somali Historian Abdulrahman Al-Jabarti in modern Egyptian Historiography

[Idilinaa]

https://www.jstor.org/stable/609695

Abdulrahman represented an enigma in so far as he provided one of the only local contemporary accounts of The Napoleonic invasion of Egypt in his famous chronicle titled ''Aja’ib al-athar fi al-tarajim wal-akhbar'' or as its alternatively called in English ''Al-Jabartis' Modern History of Egypt''.

In an era described as following:
''the period of the Ottoman rule in Egypt(1517-1881, approximately) is conspicuous for the dearth of its historical sources written by contemporary inhabitants of the country''

Turns out there was a drop off in detailed historical sources in Egypt after the fall of the Mamluks. I have always wondered why detailed accounts of the regions history is often missing during that time. For example there is lack of Egyptian historical accounts of the conquest that took place during the early mid 1500s.

Although we have local chronicles describing Somali/Muslim medieval history in the horn, such as Tarikh Al Mulukh, Tarikh Al-Mujahideen, Wa Kana Wafat , ''Hikaya fi qissat tarikh Umar Walasma wa-ansabihi wa muddat wilayatihi'', Futuh Al-Habasha or locally called ''Tuhfat al-Zaman'' and the Awsa Chronicles.

We also had Egyptians detailed vivid documentation and preservation of Awfat/Awdal (Wali Asma & Bar'Sa'adin) sultanates by Egyptian Historians such as Al Maqrizi's '' al-ilmām bi-aḫbār man bi- arḍ al-Ḥabaša min mulūk al-Islām'' and Al-Omari's ''Masalik al-absar fi mamalik al-amsar'' , both of whom lived during the Mamluk period, but not much after that.


@Midas @The alchemist

 

[Midas]

https://www.jstor.org/stable/609695

Abdulrahman represented an enigma in so far as he provided one of the only local contemporary accounts of The Napoleonic invasion of Egypt in his famous chronicle titled ''Aja’ib al-athar fi al-tarajim wal-akhbar'' or as its alternatively called in English ''Al-Jabartis' Modern History of Egypt''.

In an era described as following:
''the period of the Ottoman rule in Egypt(1517-1881, approximately) is conspicuous for the dearth of its historical sources written by contemporary inhabitants of the country''

Turns out there was a drop off in detailed historical sources in Egypt after the fall of the Mamluks. I have always wondered why detailed accounts of the regions history is often missing during that time. For example there is lack of Egyptian historical accounts of the conquest that took place during the early mid 1500s.

Although we have local chronicles describing Somali/Muslim medieval history in the horn, such as Tarikh Al Mulukh, Tarikh Al-Mujahideen, Wa Kana Wafat , ''Hikaya fi qissat tarikh Umar Walasma wa-ansabihi wa muddat wilayatihi'', Futuh Al-Habasha or locally called ''Tuhfat al-Zaman'' and the Awsa Chronicles.

We also had Egyptians detailed vivid documentation and preservation of Awfat/Awdal (Wali Asma & Bar'Sa'adin) sultanates by Egyptian Historians such as Al Maqrizi's '' al-ilmām bi-aḫbār man bi- arḍ al-Ḥabaša min mulūk al-Islām'' and Al-Omari's ''Masalik al-absar fi mamalik al-amsar'' , both of whom lived during the Mamluk period, but not much after that.


@Midas @The alchemist

One of the first things the ottomans did after they conquered eygpt was that they transferred most of the skilled craftsman from cairo to istanbul. This likely was not limited to artisans but likely also the top scholarly and bureaucrtic talent the decline we see is probably due to many of these talents that would have gone to cairo or lived there instead were attracted to istanbul. Whereas before cairo was the center of the region now it was a mere province. It's also not just eygpt but we witness this decline across the arab world. That's why this period was considered the dark age of arabic literature in general. This was alps the same time that ottoman historical writing took off

 

[Idilinaa]

One of the first things the ottomans did after they conquered eygpt was that they transferred most of the skilled craftsman from cairo to istanbul. This likely was not limited to artisans but likely also the top scholarly and bureaucrtic talent the decline we see is probably due to many of these talents that would have gone to cairo or lived there instead were attracted to istanbul. Whereas before cairo was the center of the region now it was a mere province. It's also not just eygpt but we witness this decline across the arab world. That's why this period was considered the dark age of arabic literature in general. This was alps the same time that ottoman historical writing took off

They created the first ''Brain Drain'' known to man?

I knew there was a decline in Arabic literature between the 16th and 18th centuries but that's insane

 

[Midas]

They created the first ''Brain Drain'' known to man?

I knew there was a decline in Arabic literature between the 16th and 18th centuries but that's insane

Nah this was actually a common practice in the ancient and medieval world. Lots of muslim, christan and chinese rulers did this. It's an easy to get rid of threats and create a new capital or regional hub. When alexander the great creates his empire and established the city of alexandria. Even after his death and the collapse of his empire. the city became the center of hellenic culutre which caused Athens to decline becuase everybody went there. When baghdad was established by the abbasids it caused everybody to go there instead of the ummayd capital of damascus.

 

[Idilinaa]

Nah this was actually a common practice in the ancient and medieval world. Lots of muslim, christan and chinese rulers did this. It's an easy to get rid of threats and create a new capital or regional hub. When alexander the great creates his empire and established the city of alexandria. Even after his death and the collapse of his empire. the city became the center of hellenic culutre which caused Athens to decline becuase everybody went there. When baghdad was established by the abbasids it caused everybody to go there instead of the ummayd capital of damascus.

And when the Fatimid established their capital of Cairo everyone flocked there and it continued to be the center with the Mamluks.

Now that i think about it you are right, but i never thought of it as a ''brain drain' but in reality thats what it is.

Sounds like it's just a common human tendency to attract/draw in talented and skilled people from elsewhere with the promise of better economic and educational circumstances.

 

[TekNiKo]

Mashallah my awoowe was a Suufi Caalim