Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece

Why was this made, and how was it used?

The history of gold dinars in the Islamic world dates back all the way to the late 600s. Having undergone many style changes since then, this dinar under the Ayyubid dynasty serves to promote Sunni Islam as well as recognize the power of famous religious and political leaders. Due to their extensive history and high gold concentrations, gold dinars were a widely recognized and established currency not only throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East but also throughout Europe and parts of Asia.

The division between Shi'a and Sunni Islam dates back to the death of the Prophet in which there were disputes over his rightful successor. Following Muhammad's death, a group of early followers elected Abu Bakr, a close companion of the Prophet while others who became known as Shi'a Muslims supported Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, and valued succession based on bloodline. For the first nine centuries after Muhammad's death, Sunni dynasties were far more prevalent and dominated the Middle East and North Africa. The one exception, however, were the Fatimids.

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