Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt: Two Communities, One Nation

Andrawes, Fikry

ISBN 10: 9774168704 / ISBN 13: 9789774168703

Published by The American University in Cairo, 2019

About this Item

HARDCOVER Very Good - Crisp, clean, unread book with some shelfwear/edgewear, may have a remainder mark - NICE Standard-sized.

Seller Inventory # M9774168704Z2

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt: Two Communities, One Nation
• Publisher: The American University in Cairo
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9774168704
• ISBN 13: 9789774168703
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

For the most part of their shared history, Copts and Muslims in Egypt have experienced bouts of sectarian tension alternating with peaceful coexistence. Copts and Muslims in Egypt tells the story of Muslim–Christian relations in Egypt from the coming of Islam to the aftermath of the January 2011 revolution. It begins by describing how the Church of Alexandria came into existence, and created a monastic tradition that would influence the whole of Christendom, before exploring the theological controversies that plagued the Eastern Roman world before the advent of Islam. After bouts of persecution by the Roman emperors, the Copts were strongly opposed by the Melkite Church, but, with the Arab invasion of Egypt in the seventh century, they achieved a measure of independence and individuality that they retained over the centuries. The Copts were also subjected to periods of persecution―by rulers from the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Fatimid dynasties, and under the Mamluks―but by and large, a relatively satisfactory form of cohabitation was established. The authors argue that, even if they were occasionally attacked and persecuted, the Copts generally shared the fortunes of their Muslim neighbors, and that religious difference in Egypt was frequently exploited by rulers, both internal and external, for political gain. Copts and Muslims in Egypt provides an engaging and highly readable account of communal relations through key points in Egyptian history.

About the Authors

Fikry F. Andraweswas born in Egypt and lives in the United States. He worked as an analytical chemist at NASA and in the chemical industry. In addition to many scientific papers published in English, he has written a number of books and articles in Arabic, dealing with a variety of topics related to Egypt.

Alison Orr-Andrawes is a retired psychiatrist with a background in Religious Studies at Brandeis and Rice Universities. She has traveled extensively in Egypt over the past four decades.