Merchants played a major role in the political relations between Egypt and the outside world. They worked to strengthen the ties between Egypt and China. In AH 840 (AD 1441), Sultan Barsbay sent an expedition of a number of Syrian merchants to China to create a bond of friendship and strengthen their trading activities. Gifts were often exchanged between the emperors of China and the sultans of Egypt.
Spice merchants who traded with India played an important role in diplomatic and political affairs between Egypt and India. For example, merchants carried a message from the ruler of Ceylon to Sultan Al-Mansur Qala'un in AH 682 (AD 1283). This message expressed the desire of the ruler of Ceylon to put in place a trade agreement with Egypt and offered to ship 20 shiploads of different types of spices. The expedition was favorably received by Sultan Qala'un.
The merchant Ibn Bikash traveled to India in AH 693 (AD 1294) to work in the service of its princes, while in AH 730 (AD 1329), the ruler of India sent a magnificent gift to Sultan Al-Nasir Mohammad Ibn Qala'un with one of the Karimi merchants. Said to have had a value of 1 million dinars, this gift was confiscated by the ruler of Yemen. The ruler of India also made donations to the holy shrines of the Hijaz and Jerusalem. He then sent another gift to Sultan Al-Nasir Mohammad via Baghdad to avoid it going through Yemen. In AH 876 (AD 1471) Ghiyath al-Din, the ruler of India, sent gifts, again with the Karimi merchants, to the Caliph Al-Mustanjid Billah and to Sultan Qaitbay. The merchant Ahmad 'Ali al-Kawwaz was also employed as the ambassador to the city of Gulbarga in India.
When relations between Egypt and Yemen worsened during the reign of Al-Nasir Mohammad Ibn Qala'un, the sultan wanted to send his military to Yemen. The merchants calmed matters and suggested peaceful measures instead, making a series of short trips between the two countries with gifts. They helped to promote the common interests of the two countries to keep the peace. The merchant Muhamad Ibn 'Uthman al-Misri played a major role in preventing an Egyptian military attack on Yemen.
Merchants also strengthened the ties between Egypt and Ethiopia. Mali, in Western Africa, also had good relations with Egypt thanks to the merchants. When Mansi Musa, the King of Mali, visited Egypt in AH 725 (AD 1325) during the reign of Al-Nasir Mohammad, he was joined by a number of merchants.
Many of these merchants were employed by the sultans. Shaykh 'Ali al-Kilani, for example, traded in the name of Sultan Al-Muayyad Shaykh while Ibn 'Ulayba al-Sakandari traded for Sultan Qaitbay .
Spice merchants who traded with India played an important role in diplomatic and political affairs between Egypt and India. For example, merchants carried a message from the ruler of Ceylon to Sultan Al-Mansur Qala'un in AH 682 (AD 1283). This message expressed the desire of the ruler of Ceylon to put in place a trade agreement with Egypt and offered to ship 20 shiploads of different types of spices. The expedition was favorably received by Sultan Qala'un.
The merchant Ibn Bikash traveled to India in AH 693 (AD 1294) to work in the service of its princes, while in AH 730 (AD 1329), the ruler of India sent a magnificent gift to Sultan Al-Nasir Mohammad Ibn Qala'un with one of the Karimi merchants. Said to have had a value of 1 million dinars, this gift was confiscated by the ruler of Yemen. The ruler of India also made donations to the holy shrines of the Hijaz and Jerusalem. He then sent another gift to Sultan Al-Nasir Mohammad via Baghdad to avoid it going through Yemen. In AH 876 (AD 1471) Ghiyath al-Din, the ruler of India, sent gifts, again with the Karimi merchants, to the Caliph Al-Mustanjid Billah and to Sultan Qaitbay. The merchant Ahmad 'Ali al-Kawwaz was also employed as the ambassador to the city of Gulbarga in India.
When relations between Egypt and Yemen worsened during the reign of Al-Nasir Mohammad Ibn Qala'un, the sultan wanted to send his military to Yemen. The merchants calmed matters and suggested peaceful measures instead, making a series of short trips between the two countries with gifts. They helped to promote the common interests of the two countries to keep the peace. The merchant Muhamad Ibn 'Uthman al-Misri played a major role in preventing an Egyptian military attack on Yemen.
Merchants also strengthened the ties between Egypt and Ethiopia. Mali, in Western Africa, also had good relations with Egypt thanks to the merchants. When Mansi Musa, the King of Mali, visited Egypt in AH 725 (AD 1325) during the reign of Al-Nasir Mohammad, he was joined by a number of merchants.
Many of these merchants were employed by the sultans. Shaykh 'Ali al-Kilani, for example, traded in the name of Sultan Al-Muayyad Shaykh while Ibn 'Ulayba al-Sakandari traded for Sultan Qaitbay .
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