American Prestige Welcome to the Crusades, Episode 3: Baghdad and Cairo, 1096
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Sep 10, 2025 Join Eleanor Janega, a historian with insights from her co-hosting role on We're Not So Different, as she reunites with Danny and Derek for a lively discussion on the late 11th century Near East. They tackle the decline of the Fatimid Caliphate and the rise of the Seljuk Turks, exploring Jerusalem's fluctuating control. The historical context behind the motivations of Christian lords heading to the crusade is revealed, alongside a dive into the roots of Shia Islam and the complexities of the region's governance.
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Fatimid Decline and Short-Lived Takeback
- By 1096 the Fatimid Caliphate had shrunk to Egypt and the Hejaz, while the Seljuk Turks expanded nearby.
- Fatimid vizier al-Afdal exploited the Crusader diversion to retake Jerusalem in 1098 but held it less than a year.
Caliphate Authority Became Largely Symbolic
- The Abbasid caliphs lost real power as military and regional dynasts took control, making the caliph largely symbolic.
- Buyid and later Seljuk dominance reduced Baghdad's central authority and reshaped political reality.
Fatimid Origins And Egyptian Centrality
- The Fatimids were an Ismaili Shia movement that built a rival caliphate centered in Cairo from 969.
- Control of Egypt usually determined control of Jerusalem across the medieval Islamic period.
