The History of the Jewish communities in the Mamlūk Sultanate (1250–1517): approaches and discourses

Abstract

The article discusses the main approaches and discourses that are used in writing the history of Jewish communities in the Mamlūk Sultanate (1250–1517). The review on the topic includes the classics of the Jewish history, studies of contemporary authors in English, Arabic and Hebrew. Two main approaches are distinguished. There are two approaches. The first is the “theory of decline,” which characterizes the reign of the Mamluks as a period of systematic decline of the entire Mamluk society, which subsequently influenced the state of the Jewish community itself. approach that describes the period as time of oppression and isolation of the community. The second approach defines the period as a time of oppression, discrimination and isolation of the community.The criticism of A. Mazor and N. Hofer on the “theory of decline” and oppression of the community is considered there. That historical approaches are placed in certain discourses. Among them, might be highlighted the Jewish national, Zionist, orientalist, Islamic discourses, M. Cohen's «neo-lacrimous concept», as well as the reaction on them among Arab historians. The conclusions identify problems associated with the historical period under study, and also discuss issues related to expanding the methodological base in historical research. The works of modern researchers who apply methods from other social sciences, for example, discourse analysis, narrative analysis and case study, are presented. The identification of typical approaches, theoretical and ideological frameworks will allow to reconsider the period under study in the history of Jewish communities.