Fustat

Fustat was the first Arab capital in Egypt.  It was founded in 641 AD, after the Arabs conquered Alexandria.  The Arabs did not want their capital to be so far away as Alexandria, which is why they made Fustat, which was far from the sea and closer to Arabia, and was on their side of the Nile river.

Fustat became a beautiful and powerful city for over 500 years, but then it was destroyed in 1168, when its vizier Shawar told his army to burn the city.  Shawar did not want the crusaders to capture the city, so he burned it instead.

Today there is not much left of Fustat, but some buildings can be seen in Old Cairo.

Category:Cities in Egypt
Category:640s establishments
Category:Establishments in Egypt
Category:7th-century establishments in Africa
Category:Cairo
Category:12th-century disestablishments in Africa