Commerce, Culture, and Community in a Red Sea Port in the Thirteenth Century: The Arabic Documents from Quseir (Islamic History and Civilization) (No. 52)

360 Pages·2004·3.54 MB·English

by  Li Guo

COMMERCE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY IN A RED SEA
PORT IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY
ISLAMIC HISTORY
AND CIVILIZATION
STUDIES AND TEXTS
edited by
WADAD KADI
AND
ROTRAUD WIELANDT
VOLUME 52
COMMERCE, CULTURE,
AND COMMUNITY
IN A RED SEA PORT IN
THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY
The Arabic Documents from Quseir
BY
LI GUO
BRILL
LEIDEN•BOSTON
2004
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Guo, Li, 1956-
Commerce, culture, and community in a Red Sea port in the thirteenth century : the
Arabic documents from Quseir / by Li Guo.
p. cm. — (Islamic history and civilization. Studies and texts. ISSN 0929-2403 ; v. 52)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 90-04-13747-5
1. Qusayr al-Qadåm (Extinct city). 2. Qusayr al-Qadåm (Extinct city)—Social life and
customs. 3. City and town life—Egypt—History—Sources. 4. Egypt—Commerce—Red Sea
Region—History—Sources. I. Title. II. Series.
DT73.Q77G86 2004
932—dc22
2004045594
ISSN 0929-2403
ISBN 90 04 13747 5
© Copyright 2004 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored
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Fees are subject to change.
printed in the netherlands
In memory of Franz Rosenthal (1914–2003)
scholar, teacher, and mentor
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CONTENTS
PART ONE
Preface ........................................................................................ xi
Abbreviations .............................................................................. xix
List of Plates .............................................................................. xxi
Chapter One: 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 Two: 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 Qùß and Qinà .................... 69
Chapter Three: 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
viii contents
PART TWO
Chapter Four: The Documents ................................................ 101
Classification of the Texts .................................................... 101
Paleography ............................................................................ 105
Language ................................................................................ 116
Chapter Five: Edition ................................................................ 135
Commercial Letters ................................................................ 135
Shipping Notes ...................................................................... 229
Accounts .................................................................................. 260
Official and Semi-Official Correspondence ........................ 293
Private Letters ........................................................................ 303
Miscellanies ............................................................................ 307
Select Bibliography .................................................................... 315
Index of Manuscripts and Text Editions ................................ 319
Index of Documents .................................................................. 321
General Index ............................................................................ 324
PART ONE