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Sought or Scorned? The Role of Water Experts in Mamlūk Cairo’s Hydraulic Projects
Mon, July 13, 2:30 to 4:00pm, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Floor: Level 1, Harris Suite 1English Abstract
The eighth/fourteenth century marked a period of profound political upheaval in Mamluk Cairo, with the long reign of al-Nāṣir Muḥammad (r. 709–741 AH/1310–1341 CE) being followed by intense factional struggles over succession. Throughout this century, rulers embarked upon various major hydraulic projects around the city: some, such as the aqueduct to the Citadel realized under al-Nāṣir Muḥammad, were aimed to enhance the water supply of the court, while others were attempts to mitigate the disasters caused by recurrent flooding and by the gradual retraction of the river from its eastern shores. Historical accounts of these endeavours present a paradox: some instances detail the summoning of specialized experts from abroad, underscoring the high value placed on water-related expertise, while others recount the catastrophic failure of projects where the advice of experts, even local ones, was demonstrably ignored.
This paper analyses these accounts to reconstruct the complex relationship between the Mamluk elite, technical specialists, and other actors with water-related knowledge. It investigates the interaction between skilled craftsmen and the ruling class by identifying the origins and specializations of summoned experts and exploring the consequences of ignoring expert advice. Through this analysis, the paper sheds light on the types of knowledge and expertise involved in the organization of major hydraulic projects in late medieval Cairo, while simultaneously identifying the voices that were marginalized when competing interests (e.g., financial gain) were prioritized by the elite.
Ultimately, this analysis offers a glimpse into the relationship between the ruling elite and water experts, emphasizing the politico-economic factors that shaped the interaction between those with knowledge and those with decision-making power.