Commerce, culture, and community in a Red Sea port in the thirteenth century : the Arabic documents from Quseir / by Li Guo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Guo, Li, 1956-

Series:

Islamic history and civilization 0929-2403 ; v. 52.

Islamic history and civilization. Studies and texts, 0929-2403 ; v. 52

Language:

Arabic

English

Subjects (All):

Commerce.

History.

City and town life.

Qusayr al-Qadīm (Extinct city).

Qusayr al-Qadīm (Extinct city)--Social life and customs.

City and town life--Egypt--History--Sources.

Egypt--Commerce--Red Sea Region--History--Sources.

Egypt.

Red Sea Region.

Genre:

Sources.

Physical Description:

xx, 334 pages : illustrations, genealogical tables ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2004.

Language Note:

Documents in Arabic are accompanied by English descriptions and translations.

Summary:

This is a study and edition of the Arabic documents uncovered in Quseir, Upper Egypt. These documents shed light on the Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade in the thirteenth century. They also reveal aspects of the everyday life, popular culture, and linguistic features of the communities involved.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The "Sheikh's House" 1

The Family: A Household Divided 1

The Company: Associates and Employees 11

Clients: Suppliers, Buyers, Officials, Pilgrims, and Others 16

Chapter 2 The Red Sea Commerce at Quseir 29

Weights and Measures 29

Grain: Quantity and Prices 35

Other Commodities: No More Spices? 38

Trade Patterns and Business Practices 44

The Quest for Money 51

The Trade Routes 58

Table 1 Commodities mentioned in the documents 67

Table 2 Grain prices 69

Table 3 Exchange rates in Qus and Qina 69

Chapter 3 Life, Death, and God: Aspects of Popular Belief and Culture 70

"Funeral Texts": Sermons and Prayers 70

"Healing Texts": Block Printed Amulets and Handwritten Charms 75

Astrological Dials 82

Appendix 1 Medieval Arabic Block Prints 87

Appendix 2 A Catalogue of the Block Prints Uncovered in Quseir 88

Concluding Remarks: The Red Sea Trade on the Eve of the "World System" 90

Chapter 4 The Documents 101

Classification of the Texts 101

Paleography 105

Language 116

Chapter 5 Edition 135

Commercial Letters 135

Shipping Notes 229

Accounts 260

Official and Semi-Official Correspondence 293

Private Letters 303.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 315-318) and indexes.

ISBN:

9004137475

OCLC:

54694678