Egypt under Muʿāwiya Part II: Middle Egypt, Fust

The first part of this paper discussed a large collection of documents from Upper Egypt illustrative of society and economy in the time of Muʿāwiya. Here, further papyri, of pagarchs of Arsinoe, present supplementary information about grain production, taxation, great estates, the postal service and the role of the church in the local economy. Information about Fust˙ āt˙ and Alexandria depends on literary sources and archaeology. Fust˙ āt˙ ,which started as a camp, became more organized and controlled under Muʿāwiya’s governors when the main shipyard was moved there. Alexandria, despite romantic descriptions, was at least partly ruined. Like Fust˙ āt˙ , it was the seat of amajor garrison. Taken together, the evidence fromEgypt shows much administrative continuity from Byzantine times, but with important new taxes and requisitions and a tighter central control. It suggests thatMuʿāwiya ran a sophisticated and effective state.