Book Review: In the Sultan's Salon: Learning, Religion, and Rulership at the Mamlūk Court of Qāniṣawh al-Ghawrī (r. 1501–1516) and Browsing through the Sultan's Bookshelves: Towards a Reconstruction of the Library of the Mamlūk Sultan Qāniṣawh al-Ghawrī (r. 906–922/1501–1516)

Key Points

• This review examines two books focusing on the Mamlūk court's intellectual life and the library of Sultan Qāniṣawh al-Ghawrī.
• Analysis of the content and themes presented in both books.
• Comparison between the insights provided by Mauder and D'hulste regarding the Mamlūk period.
• Evaluation of the historical significance of the Mamlūk library.
• Insights into the role of religion and learning at the Mamlūk court.
• Reconstruction of the Mamlūk Sultan's library enhances understanding of cultural practices.
• Highlights the importance of literature and scholarship in governance during the Mamlūk era.