The Mustansirid Crisis: A Case of Pandemics in Fatimid Egypt.

Abstract

Fatimid Egypt knew many calamities resulting from drought and the ebbing of the Nile. These in turn caused famines and dire economic conditions especially after the failure of the Fatimid plans to take over Baghdad and their total collapse under the constant blows dealt by the Seljuk Turks. State coffers were nearing bankruptcy and their financial cul-de-sac grew tighter as the Fatimids tried to solve the problems caused by famines and subsequent epidemics which lasted from 446 to 454 (Hijri) / 1054-1062 AD. This crisis took many lives especially between 447 and 448 (Hijri)/ 1055/1056 AD. The number of deaths reached a daily estimate of 1000 lives. Smallpox spread widely and took many lives and was followed by the bubonic plague in 456 (Hijri)/ 1064 AD.
Epidemics during the Mustansirid crisis spread far and wide and the death toll caused a lot of destitution and homelessness. Ibn Iyass Al-Hanafi pointed out that a third of the population of Egypt perished and people continued to suffer until the year 446 (Hijri)/ 1071 AD. People also tossed their dead in the Nile which polluted drinking water.
All these calamities and famines and the subsequent economic crises and epidemics left the Fatimid helpless until the arrival of the Armenian officer Bad Al-Jamali in the year 446 (Hijri)/ 1073 AD who to take over the governance of Egypt and solve its problems.
The methodology of our study of historical documents will be inductive, using the research mechanisms of historical anthropology approaches.
- How did political strife between the major Islamic powers mix with the economic?
- What were the major calamities and famines and what were the epidemics they caused?
- How did these epidemics affect the Fatimid Califate on all levels?