Study Guide. Lev. State and Society in Fatimid Egypt

While this chapter concerns directly only Egypt during the post Abbasid period, the statements made about various members of the elite--government officials, women, etc. do pertain to most of the other areas of the Islamic world at this time.

1. Terms:

Fatimid
imam
Cairo
al-Hakim [check in Saunders for information about this ruler].
vizier
eunuch [again, you can check in Saunders for information about this class of people; you need to be sure that you know what a eunuch is].

2. What were the sources of income for the Fatimid "royalty?" Were these different for men and women?

3. What were the sources of power for governmental officials at this time?

4. Why does this author include "slaves" and "eunuchs" in a chapter on "ruling circles?"