Cairo

Author: Che Xiaomei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is not only the largest city in Africa but also the largest city in the Arab world and the largest city in the Islamic world. It is one of the world's four cradles of civilization, renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Cairo is an ancient city, with its earliest settlements dating back to the town of Fustat. In 641 AD, the famous general of the Arab Empire, Amr ibn al-As, led his troops from the Sinai Peninsula to conquer the Nile Valley. He established a camp in Fustat, located in the southern suburbs of modern-day Cairo, and then advanced northward and southward, bringing the entire territory of Egypt under his control, making Fustat the capital of Egypt. In 643 AD, the Amr Mosque was completed. This mosque is the oldest in Africa, and its construction marked Egypt's liberation from the Byzantine Roman Empire, as well as the beginning of the rise of the Arab nation and Islam in Egypt. In 969 AD, the Fatimid Caliphate began using the name "Cairo," which means "victory" in Arabic. A number of buildings with unique architectural styles in Cairo were built successively from that time onwards. Cairo is not only a precious treasure for the people of Egypt but also a shared wealth of all humanity. It is embracing the arrival of the next millennium with its ancient yet youthful grandeur. This book includes chapters such as "The Mother of World Cities," "The Radiant City of Victory," "Immortal Names in the Course of History," "Cairo's Culture: A of Humanism and Fascination," "Art That Blends Tradition and Modernity," and "A City Where Multiple Civilizations Shine."