Islamization of Ancient Egypt
— — Final Group Presentation of “2018 Winter Tsinghua Global South Culture Immersion Program” (Written in 2018)
Ancient Egypt used to be a splendid civilization in the history. However, the great traditions of Egyptian culture, such as the creation of monumental architecture, language, and polytheistic religion, had vanished by the early Christian period. By the sixth century, the conquest of Arab gave the final push that destroyed the ancient Egyptian culture. In this paper, we focus on the Islamization process of Egypt. We approach the problem in education, economy, religion, violence, language, settlement, and geopolitics.
1. Introduction
Before the middle of the sixth century, the majority of Egyptians are Christians, ruled by Cyrus of Alexandria. On December 22 640, Cyrus of Alexandria entered into a treaty with the Muslims, by which Muslim sovereignty over Egypt was recognized. Then Egyptians agreed to pay Jizya. In 641 AD, the Muslims invaded into Alexandria and killed emperor Heraclius. The figure 1 shows the Arab conquest process in the history.
Islamization has taken place in many countries in the history. As one of the most powerful religions in the world, it has believers in most middle east countries. Egypt had splendid history, such as pyramid, astronomy, religions, etc. In the sixth century, two civilization conflicted after the Arab conquest.
Apart from the physical conquer, the transformation of religion took a long time in Egypt. The figure 2 shows that the Islamization in Egypt, though took a long time, did happen.
In the last evening of our stay, we visited a Bazaar in Cairo. When I was bargaining to buy a T-shirt, I chatted with the shop owner about Islam. I thought it was a pity that Egyptians forgot about nearly all about ancient Egyptian culture. Should we blame Islam for that? The shop owner disagreed with me. When we finished bargain, he told me seriously, Islam is a good thing.
This paper intends to analyze the criteria contributed to the Islamization of Egypt after the Arab conquest. We put forward geopolitics, violence & war, settlement, economy, religion, education, and language aspects to answer why Islamization took place in Egypt.
2. Reasons
Geopolitics
To some extent, our neighbors can have a large impact on our religion. The figure shows the conquest of Arabs to the Middle East in the 7th century and after. The neighbors were not as civilized as Egypt, so they were assimilated to Islam quickly. Surrounded by Islamic countries, some Egyptians changed their religion.
Violence and War
Ancient historian al-Maqrizi recorded 8 assaults against Copts occurred in 1259, 1264, 1279, 1283, 1293, 1301, 1321 and 1354. The intended violence against Christians increased the pressure to maintain their belief. On the other hand, the Christian churches were destroyed.
In all the provinces of Egypt, both north and south, no church remained that had not been razed; on many of these sites, mosques were constructed. For when the Christians’ affliction grew great and their incomes small, they decided to embrace Islam. Thus Islam spread among the Christians of Egypt, and in the town of Qalyub alone, 450 persons were converted to Islam in a single day. Many people attributed this to Christian cunning, so repugnant did the populace find them. But this was a momentous event in Egyptian history. From that time on, lineages became mixed in Egypt.
Settlement
After the Arab conquest, the new ruler of Egypt promulgated some apartheid policy. Though some Muslims settled down in Egypt after the Arab conquest, they did not live with Egyptians. Instead, Muslims and non-Muslims stayed in different area. Arabs took control of the cities and Copts farmed in the countryside. Aristocracy was formed by collecting taxes from Coptic peasants. By exploitation, remaining value flowed into the cities.
Economy
Arabic merchants were famous in the history. They were quite professional dealing with business. In the economic aspect, they imposed a special tax, called ‘Jizya’ on non-Muslims.
Researchers have found that the rate of ‘Jizya’ was increased during the time. The tax became higher and higher, making it a huge afford to Coptics.
That contributed to the transformation of Christianity religion to Islam religion. In 727, about 24000 Copts transformed to Islam in order to escape ‘Jizya’.
Religion
Muslims are forbidden to change their religion. Once a person becomes a Muslim, he/she will be a Muslim for the lifelong.
A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death.
A non-Muslim who leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.
The discrimination of women and the allowance of polygamy resulted in a high birth rate of Muslims. On the contrary, Christians believed in monogamy.
A non-Muslim man who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.
A woman can have 1 husband, who can have up to 4 wives; Muhammad can have more.
Education
Educational institutions were established to train Muslims officials and provided a place for the elites to meet each other. People call is Marasa in Arabic. It divided Muslims and non-Muslims. To some extent, it served as an entrance to the higher social class.
Inside Marasa, the knowledge of the law was taught in the Sunni community. The education in Marasa enhanced people’s belief in Islam.
Language
Language is the carrier of civilization. After the Arabs took dominate role in Egypt, they use Arabic as the only legitimate language. In order to get a brighter future under the current social construction at that time, studying Arabic became a necessity.
The loss of ancient Egyptian language imperceptibly influenced Copts to give up their own language and got to learn the traditions of Arabs.
3. Conclusion
Arabs and Copts engaged in different industrials in the society. The division of labor was a projection of social class. The jobs of Arabs were easier and more rewarding. On the other hand, Islamic law placed a lot of restrictions on Muslims, therefore, marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims were rare. An invisible wall thwarted those two races against fusion. Thus, social classes were formed, highly consistent with religions.
For those who did not chase for a higher social status, violence and taxes ‘Jizya’ were presented as a pressure to assimilate them into Islam. The Islam belief of surrounding countries counted as another force to influence Egyptians.
Islam society had a well-designed management system. Marasa the college provided a place to unite Muslim elites and enhance the belief of Islam in the governing families. Because Arabic was the only legitimate language, people tended to learn Arabic and dropped ancient Egyptian language. The loss of language was the beginning of the loss of literature. From then on, the loss of culture was not far away.
4. Acknowledgement
This essay is the final project for Tsinghua South Culture Immersion Program in Egypt. That’s such a great experience to study in Egypt for two weeks. Because we are just the amateurs in this issue, there may be mistakes in this paper. We are willing to get your advice and comments.
The authors would like to thank the great lectures given by teachers in the American University in Cairo(AUC). The authors would like to thank the organizers in Tsinghua University.
5. My Impression of Egypt
I would like to thank Tsinghua University for providing such great programs for our 20 undergraduates. The two weeks in Egypt has changed my under- standing of Egypt, Middle East, and Africa. The lecture sessions opened several windows, through which I could picture Egypt as not just a country, but an energetic civilization.
As a Chinese, I experienced Road and Belt plan and saw foreigners’ reactions about it. For the next 20 years, the developing opportunities are in Africa, Middle East, South America. In other words, global south countries.
Another thing I thought about is how can we preserve our own culture in the communication with other civilizations. Ancient Egyptian culture gave way to Christin and Islam. The university we stayed is called the American University in Cairo. If we forget about our culture, how will our nation-state look like in the future? Teacher Li put forward an interesting question: Is westernization the only way to modernization?
I also felt the power of local climate. When I stayed in AUC, New Cairo, I thought it is luxury to have so much vegetation in the campus. However, grass and farmland are everywhere in Cairo. On our way to Alexandria, plants appear much more frequently.
It flows through old hushed Egypt and its sands, Like some grave mighty thought threading a dream, And times and things, as in that vision, seem Keeping along it their eternal stands, — Caves, pillars, pyramids, the shepherd bands That roamed through the young world, the glory extreme Of high Sesostris, and that southern beam, The laughing queen that caught the world’s great hands.
Then comes a mightier silence, stern and strong, As of a world left empty of its throng, And the void weighs on us; and then we wake, And hear the fruitful stream lapsing along Twixt villages, and think how we shall take Our own calm journey on for human sake.
— James Leigh Hunt
