Jews Kept Document Graveyards

In his office by the port, Ibn 'Awkal never travels.

The world comes to him instead: pearls from distant seas, indigo from Palestine, silk wrapped in leather from Sicily.

His sons venture forth on ships while he stays in Fustat*, reading letters marked in Hebrew and Arabic.

Each morning, scribes note the dates in two calendars, two languages, bridging worlds. His old apprentice still calls him teacher, though their paths have parted.

As any Midwesterner can tell you, some power lies in staying still, letting the tides of commerce wash treasures to your door.

From his reply guys, whole networks of the medieval world are revealed.

*since absorbed into Cairo