Scholars’ Expenditures and Their Impact on Public Life in the Mamluk Era (648-923 AH / 1250-1517 CE)

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the lives of scholars during the Mamluk era (648-923 AH/1250-1517 AD)، and to identify the methods and means by which scholars spent their money، and the impact of this spending on public life during the Mamluk era. The study adopted the scientific method in historical studies، which relies on collecting scientific material from sources، subjecting it to analysis and comparison، drawing conclusions، and then organizing، presenting، and arranging the scientific material according to the chapters of the study. The study concluded that scholars had multiple methods and means of spending on their personal needs، such as housing، clothing، and food، as well as on their scientific journeys and writings، and on acquiring horses and farms. They also spent on public affairs through their spending on building mosques، schools، Sufi lodges، hospices، zawiyas، and hospitals، as well as on constructing roads، digging wells، and assisting the poor، students of knowledge، orphans، widows، and strangers. This spending had positive effects on public life، while some expenditures had negative effects through bribery in the purchase of positions، thus leading to the spread of judicial، financial، and administrative corruption.