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History of Cairo Timeline
(969 CE – Present)Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is one of the world's great historical cities. Founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid dynasty near older settlements like Fustat, it grew into a major center of Islamic culture, trade, and learning, home to Al-Azhar University. Over the centuries, Cairo was ruled by the Ayyubids, Mamluks, Ottomans, and eventually became the heart of modern Egypt, blending medieval Islamic architecture with contemporary urban life. More Less
Ancient & Classical Era
Construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza
2560 BC
The Great Pyramid was built on the Giza plateau, now part of Greater Cairo, as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu. It remained the tallest man-made structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years and remains an enduring symbol of Egypt.
Image source: Great Pyramid of Giza
Babylon Fortress established by the Romans
300
The Romans built the Babylon Fortress on the east bank of the Nile in what is now Old Cairo. The fortified camp became the nucleus around which later settlements, including Fustat, would develop.
Image source: Babylon Fortress
Islamic Cairo
Muslim conquest of Egypt and founding of Fustat
641
The Arab general Amr ibn al-As conquered Byzantine Egypt and founded Fustat as the new capital, just north of the Babylon Fortress. It became the first Muslim settlement in Egypt and the earliest nucleus of Cairo.
Image source: Fustat
Mosque of Amr ibn al-As completed
642
Amr ibn al-As built Egypt's first mosque in Fustat, originally a simple structure that was repeatedly expanded. Known as the Crown of Mosques, it remains an important religious and historic site in Old Cairo.
Image source: Amr ibn al-As Mosque
Founding of Cairo by the Fatimids
969
The Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli laid out a new palace city north of Fustat, named al-Qahira (the Victorious). Intended initially as an enclosed royal city, it grew to absorb Fustat and become the capital of Egypt.
Image source: Cairo
Al-Azhar Mosque founded
970
The Fatimids founded Al-Azhar Mosque as the centerpiece of their new city. It later evolved into Al-Azhar University in 988, one of the world's oldest universities and a preeminent center of Islamic scholarship.
Image source: Al-Azhar Mosque
Cairo becomes capital under Saladin and the Ayyubids
1171
Saladin ended Fatimid rule and established the Ayyubid dynasty, making Cairo the seat of Sunni power in Egypt. He began the construction of the Cairo Citadel and strengthened the city's fortifications.
Image source: Saladin
Mamluk era begins with Cairo as imperial capital
1250
The Mamluks seized power and ruled from Cairo for over two centuries. Under their patronage the city flourished into one of the largest and wealthiest cities of the medieval world, famed for its mosques, madrasas, and caravanserais.
Image source: Mamluk Sultanate
Cairo survives the Mongol threat after Ain Jalut
1260
After Mamluk forces defeated the Mongols at Ain Jalut, Cairo emerged as the protector of the Islamic heartlands. The city welcomed refugees and scholars fleeing Mongol destruction, boosting its cultural prominence.
Image source: Battle of Ain Jalut
Ibn Battuta visits Cairo
1326
The Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta described Cairo as the mistress of broad provinces and mother of cities, marveling at its vast size, thriving bazaars, and monumental Islamic architecture during the height of Mamluk prosperity.
Image source: Ibn Battuta
Key Facts
- Cairo was founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid general Jawhar al-Siqilli, who established it as the new capital of the Fatimid Caliphate.
- Al-Azhar University, founded around 970–972 CE, is one of the oldest universities in the world and a leading center of Islamic scholarship.
- The city flourished under the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517), which left Cairo a wealth of mosques, madrasas, and monuments still visible in 'Islamic Cairo,' a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Cairo came under Ottoman rule in 1517 after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt, and later was occupied by Napoleon's French forces in 1798.
- In the 19th and 20th centuries, under Muhammad Ali and his successors and then during British occupation, Cairo modernized rapidly and today is the largest metropolitan area in Africa and the Arab world.
Source
This History of Cairo timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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