When was Cairo founded and by whom?
Cairo was founded in 969 by the Fatimid Caliph al-Mu'izz. The city was initially named al-Manuriyyah before the Caliph renamed it Qahira al-Mu'izz upon his arrival from Tunisia in 973.
Common questions about Cairo
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the meaning of the name Cairo?
The name Cairo means 'the Vanquisher' or 'the Conqueror' and was chosen because the planet Mars was rising at the moment the city was founded. Coptic speakers historically referred to the city as Tikešrōmi, which means 'man breaker' or derives from the Roman castle of Babylon.
Who founded the settlement of Fustat?
Amr ibn al-As founded the settlement of Fustat between 639 and 642 following the Muslim conquest of Byzantine Egypt. He established Fustat next to the Babylon Fortress to serve as the administrative capital of Egypt.
When did the Black Death strike Cairo and how many people died?
The Black Death struck Cairo in 1348, killing approximately 200,000 people in its initial wave. The plague returned more than fifty times between 1348 and 1517, reducing the population to between 150,000 and 300,000 by the 15th century.
When was the historic district of Cairo listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The historic districts of Cairo were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The city was also hit by an earthquake in 1992 that caused 545 deaths and left around 50,000 people homeless.
How many people live in the Greater Cairo metropolitan area?
The Greater Cairo metropolitan area has over 22 million people and is the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world, and the Middle East. Cairo itself is home to more than 10.5 million people.