How could a
market in Egypt be responsible for the founding of the United States?
Khan el-Khalili,
once known as the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period, is now usually just called the
'Khan', and the names of it and the Muski market are often used interchangeably to mean
either. Named for the great Caravansary, the market was built in 1382 by the Emir Djaharks
el-Khalili in the heart of the Fatimid City. Together with the al-Muski market to the
west, they comprise one of Cairo's most important shopping areas. But more than that, they
represent the market tradition which established Cairo as a major center of trade, and at
the Khan, one will still find foreign merchants. Perhaps, this vary market was involved in
the spice monopoly controlled by the Mamluks, which encouraged the Europeans to search for
new routes to the East and led Columbus, indirectly, to discover the Americas. During its
early period, the market was also a center for subversive groups, often subject to raids
before the Sultan Ghawri rebuilt much of the area in the early 16th century. Regardless,
it was trade which caused Cairo's early wealth, even from the time of the Babylon fort
which was often a settlement of traders.
This market is
situated at one corner of a triangle of markets that go south to Bab Zuwayla and west to
Azbakiyyah. The Khan is bordered on the south by al-Azhar Street and on the west by the
Muski Market. One of the old original gates guards the entrance to the original courtyard
which lies midway down Sikkit al-Badistan (street). On a narrow street leading off
al-Badistand, one will find the El-Fishawi Cafe, or Cafe of Mirrors, which was once a
meeting place for local artists, and is still frequented by the Nobel Award winning Naguib
Mahfouz, one of Egypt's most well known authors. Egyptian buyers generally shop in the
area north of al-Badistan and to the west, where prices may be lower. Better deals for
gold and silver are to be found west of the Khan along the "street of the gold
sellers", and further on one will find the Brass and Coppersmith Markets.
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Shop@EGYPT Team
