@book{2026:habibi:vivre_et_r,
title = {Vivre et régner sur les frontières égyptiennes: Le Haut-Ṣaʽīd de la conquête islamique au milieu du Ve/XIe siècle},
year = {2026},
note = {The objective of this study is to undertake a regional analysis of
Upper Ṣaʽīd – situated in the far south of Egypt – during a
time of profound political, social, and cultural transformation –
from the Islamic conquest to the mid-5th/11th century. The
establishment of the new Islamic authority in Egypt marks a
significant turning point in the broader history of the Mediterranean.
This analysis draws on a diverse corpus of sources, including
papyrological documents (Greek and Coptic for the 7th–8th centuries,
Arabic from the 8th century onward), funerary stelae, archaeological
findings, and literary texts. The investigation begins in the 1st/7th
century, a time when Egypt was administratively divided into two
geographic entities : Upper and Lower Egypt. The importance of papyri
and ostraca is highlighted in the second part of this research, as
they constitute the most valuable source for studying the
administrative organisation of the territory in question. Using these
Greek and Coptic documents from the 1st/7th–2nd/8th centuries and
Arabic documents from the 2nd/8th century onwards, I examine the
evolution of the administrative hierarchy between the Byzantine
legacy, and the new structure adopted by the new power. Papyrological
documents and ostraca are also utilized in the third part of this
study to analyze the role played by Upper Ṣaʽīd as a hub
monopolizing commercial networks. The evidence reveals that, alongside
the interactions between state officials, monasteries and merchants,
the network was notably open, attracting pilgrims and merchants from
diverse regions. These actors were interconnected through sales
transactions and services rendered, reflecting a sustained level of
economic activity until the 5th/11th century. These routes were
controlled by these entities, with caravans and riverboats
facilitating the efficient operation of commerce. Thanks to its
strategic geographical position, Upper Ṣaʽīd emerged as a
commercial centre and an attractive market, guaranteeing its
significance for the Muslim authorities based in the capital.         
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                  Muziris - 5},
edition = {1},
publisher = {Zaphon},
address = {Münster},
series = {Muziris / Historische Papyrologie, Epigraphik und verwandte Gebiete der antiken Kulturen / Historical papyrology, epigraphy and neighbouring fields in ancient cultures},
volume = {5},
author = {Habibi, Afnen}
}