Mamluks:Legacy of an Empire

Legacy of an Empire is a richly illustrated publication that explores the political, cultural, and artistic legacy of the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled from Cairo over vast regions of the Islamic world between 1250 and 1517. The book accompanies a major international exhibition and brings together over 270 objects, including metalwork, manuscripts, textiles, ceramics, arms, and architectural fragments, many loaned from prestigious public and private collections. Through thematic essays and detailed object entries, it reveals how the Mamluks, originally a military caste, developed a distinct visual and material culture, becoming powerful patrons of architecture, urbanism, and the arts. The catalogue also highlights the Mamluks' global connections, showing their links with China, Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Indian Ocean world.