The Karak Plateau in the Ayyubid and Mamluk Periods

Marcus Milwright

Outline

1. Introduction

   1. Historical background

   2. Karak in a wider geographical context

   3. The strategic significance of Karak

2. Political History of the Karak Plateau in the Ayyubid-Mamluk Period

   1. The Capture of Karak and Shawbak from the Crusaders

   2. Karak in the Ayyubid period

   3. Karak in the Mamluk period

3. The Economy of the Karak Plateau: Historical and Archaeological Sources

   1. Sources of information

   2. Fluctuations in population levels on the Karak plateau

   3. The economic resources of the regions controlled by Karak

   4. Trade and pilgrimage routes running through the Karak plateau