Circassian Mamluks Period (1382-1517)
They were slaves bought by the Bahri Mamluk Sultan Qala‘un. Much like the Bahri Mamluk dynasty, the Circassian sultans usually gained power through murder and usurpation rather than natural succession and inheritance. In 1382, a Circassian slave took control of Egypt. His reign began the Circassian rule. This was a dangerous time where few people were safe. Both Christians and Jews were persecuted. Christians were made to wear heavy five-pound crosses around their necks and Jews had to wear black stone balls around theirs. In this empire, the people were taxed heavily. Despite the political turmoil, the Circassian Mamluk Period was the greatest epoch of Egyptian architecture.

Developments made at the Mosque of Sultan Hasan were carried through in the architecture of the Circassian Dynasty. The traditional form of the madrasa and mosque complex was transformed, creating, as in the Mosque of Sultan Hasan, a madrasa that also included the Friday mosque for congregational sermons. Living units were also omitted as an integral part of the religious complex. Instead, they were integrated into the commercial part of the complex as apartments for families. This meant that those of the Sufi doctrine no longer had to live in the complex. The form of the religious complex was changing greatly as the strict regulations for the madrasa were abandoned.

The builders of the Circassian Mamluk period also developed the ribbed stone dome that was unique to Egypt. Originally constructed in the same manner as brick masonry, early stone domes were coated with plaster to conceal the joints. Stonework was soon adapted so that the joints were easily hidden and plaster was no longer needed. Builders also developed ribbing, which was probably derived from the ribbed stone helmet of the minaret of Amir Qusun. The ribbed stone form has since been developed and altered to include the intricate patterns that are typical of the Circassian Mamluk dynasty. The stone dome, however, quickly disappeared shortly after the Ottoman conquest of 1517, marking an end to the great advancements of the Mamluks.






The Circassian Mamluks were slaves bought by the Bahri Mamluk Sultan Qala‘un. Much like the Bahri Mamluk dynasty, the Circassian sultans usually gained power through murder and usurpation rather than natural succession and inheritance. In 1382, a Circassian slave took control of Egypt. His reign began the Circassian rule. This was a dangerous time where few people were safe. Both Christians and Jews were persecuted. Christians were made to wear heavy five-pound crosses around their necks and Jews had to wear black stone balls around theirs. In this empire, the people were taxed heavily. Despite the political turmoil, the Circassian Mamluk Period was the greatest epoch of Egyptian architecture.


Developments made at the Mosque of Sultan Hasan were carried through in the architecture of the Circassian Dynasty. The traditional form of the madrasa and mosque complex was transformed, creating, as in the Mosque of Sultan Hasan, a madrasa that also included the Friday mosque for congregational sermons. Living units were also omitted as an integral part of the religious complex. Instead, they were integrated into the commercial part of the complex as apartments for families. This meant that those of the Sufi doctrine no longer had to live in the complex. The form of the religious complex was changing greatly as the strict regulations for the madrasa were abandoned.

The builders of the Circassian Mamluk period also developed the ribbed stone dome that was unique to Egypt. Originally constructed in the same manner as brick masonry, early stone domes were coated with plaster to conceal the joints. Stonework was soon adapted so that the joints were easily hidden and plaster was no longer needed. Builders also developed ribbing, which was probably derived from the ribbed stone helmet of the minaret of Amir Qusun. The ribbed stone form has since been developed and altered to include the intricate patterns that are typical of the Circassian Mamluk dynasty. The stone dome, however, quickly disappeared shortly after the Ottoman conquest of 1517, marking an end to the great advancements of the Mamluks.







The Circassian Mamluks were slaves bought by the Bahri Mamluk Sultan Qala‘un. Much like the Bahri Mamluk dynasty, the Circassian sultans usually gained power through murder and usurpation rather than natural succession and inheritance. In 1382, a Circassian slave took control of Egypt. His reign began the Circassian rule. This was a dangerous time where few people were safe. Both Christians and Jews were persecuted. Christians were made to wear heavy five-pound crosses around their necks and Jews had to wear black stone balls around theirs. In this empire, the people were taxed heavily. Despite the political turmoil, the Circassian Mamluk Period was the greatest epoch of Egyptian architecture.


Developments made at the Mosque of Sultan Hasan were carried through in the architecture of the Circassian Dynasty. The traditional form of the madrasa and mosque complex was transformed, creating, as in the Mosque of Sultan Hasan, a madrasa that also included the Friday mosque for congregational sermons. Living units were also omitted as an integral part of the religious complex. Instead, they were integrated into the commercial part of the complex as apartments for families. This meant that those of the Sufi doctrine no longer had to live in the complex. The form of the religious complex was changing greatly as the strict regulations for the madrasa were abandoned.

The builders of the Circassian Mamluk period also developed the ribbed stone dome that was unique to Egypt. Originally constructed in the same manner as brick masonry, early stone domes were coated with plaster to conceal the joints. Stonework was soon adapted so that the joints were easily hidden and plaster was no longer needed. Builders also developed ribbing, which was probably derived from the ribbed stone helmet of the minaret of Amir Qusun. The ribbed stone form has since been developed and altered to include the intricate patterns that are typical of the Circassian Mamluk dynasty. The stone dome, however, quickly disappeared shortly after the Ottoman conquest of 1517, marking an end to the great advancements of the Mamluks.

http://www.circassianworld.com/circassianmamluks.html

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200605/ibn.khaldun.and.the.rise.and.fall.of.empires.htm