کتاب Orations of the Fatimid Caliphs The Fatimid empire was a highly sophisticated and cosmopolitan regime that flourished from the beginning of the 10th to the end of the 12th century Under the enlightened rule of the Fatimid Caliphs Cairo was founded as the nucleus of an imperium that extended from Arabia in the east to presentday Morocco in the west Dynamic rulers like the the fourth caliph alMuizz who conquered Egypt and founded his new capital there were remarkable not only for their extensive conquests but also for combining secular with religious legitimacy As living imams of the Ismaili branch of Shiism they exercised authority over both spiritual and secular domains The sacred dimension of their mandate was manifested most powerfully twice a year when the imamCaliphs personally delivered sermons or khutbas to their subjects to coincide with the great feasts and festivals of fastbreaking and sacrificeWhile few of these sermons have survived those that have endured vividly evoke both of the atmosphere of the occasion and the words uttered on it Paul E Walker here provides unique access to these orations by presenting the Arabic original and a complete English translation of all the khutbas now extant He also offers a history of the festival sermons and explores their key themes and rhetorical strategies