Location:
Egypt
Coordinates:
30.0444, 31.2357
Events at Cairo (12)
642
ID: 5757
Arabs reopen ancient canal - Amr ibn al-As restores connection to supply grain from Egypt to Mecca and Medina
ID: 5757
767
ID: 5758
Caliph al-Mansur closes canal permanently - prevents rival supplies reaching Mecca rebels, ends ancient waterway forever
ID: 5758
1100
ID: 5759
Karimi merchants dominate Cairo spice trade - mysterious guild controls Red Sea-Mediterranean transshipment, immense wealth
ID: 5759
1150
ID: 5760
Venetian funduq established in Cairo - permanent trading post and warehouse, Venice gets privileged access to spices
ID: 5760
1170
ID: 5761
Saladin courts Venetian traders - despite Crusades, allows Venice to trade in Alexandria and Cairo for naval support
ID: 5761
1250
ID: 5762
Mamluk-Venetian monopoly formalized - Mamluks control Red Sea arrival, Venice gets exclusive European distribution rights
ID: 5762
1300
ID: 5763
Mamluk spice convoys run like clockwork - armed 'Mecca fleets' bring spices from Jeddah to Cairo, then overland to Alexandria
ID: 5763
1400
ID: 5764
Spice taxes provide third of Mamluk revenue - Sultan's monopoly charges duties at Jeddah, Suez, Cairo, and Alexandria
ID: 5764
1420
ID: 5765
Venice pays 10,000 ducats annually to Mamluk Sultan - ensures exclusive access, other Europeans blocked from spice trade
ID: 5765
1450
ID: 5766
Cairo-Alexandria spice caravan takes 10 days - heavily guarded camel trains carry fortunes in pepper, cinnamon, cloves
ID: 5766
1517
ID: 5767
Ottomans conquer Egypt - take over Mamluk spice monopoly, but Portuguese Cape route already destroying traditional trade
ID: 5767
1600
ID: 5771
Cairo spice trade collapses - from 490 tons of pepper annually in 1500 to under 20 tons, Cape route destroys ancient system
ID: 5771