Mamluks and India: Crossroads of History at Louvre Abu Dhabi

The galleries brim with exquisite glasswork, intricate metalware, textiles, ceramics, manuscripts, and architectural elements that once adorned the vibrant cities of Cairo and Damascus. Yet, this exhibition is not only about artistic brilliance. It is also about resilience, cultural identity, and the remarkable ability of the Mamluks to create a cosmopolitan society that stood at the crossroads of global trade, faith, and intellectual exchange.

“In bringing together fragile masterpieces from across the world—from France, the USA, and the UK, to Italy, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and beyond—we wanted to create more than just a visual journey,” explains Dr. Guilhem André, Director of Scientific, Curatorial and Collection Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi. “It was logistically challenging, but also a remarkable achievement to unite these treasures in one space. Together, they present a comprehensive picture of the Mamluk period—its artistic and architectural brilliance, its scientific and literary pursuits, and its cosmopolitan urban life.”

Trade routes, in particular, come alive through the objects on display. The Mamluks thrived on their ability to connect worlds, linking Africa, Asia, and Europe. “India played an especially important role,” notes Dr. André. “From the ports of Sindh and Gujarat, printed and embroidered cotton textiles, sandalwood, ambergris, and precious stones travelled widely. These exchanges reveal the depth of Indo-Mamluk ties and underscore how Mamluk society was deeply interconnected, how it thrived at the crossroads of commerce, culture, and creativity.”

For visitors today, the resonance is immediate. “We expect the exhibition to speak not only to local and regional audiences but also to people from much farther afield,” Dr. André adds. “The Mamluks were never confined to a local outlook—their worldview was expansive. They were modern in their structures and in their vision of society. That makes their legacy especially meaningful in today’s interconnected world.”

The exhibition deliberately invites visitors of all backgrounds to find a personal connection. Italians might be drawn to the traces of Venetian-Mamluk trade, Chinese visitors may recognize the influence of porcelain traditions, while Indian audiences will see echoes of their own history in the circulation of silk, gems, and spices. “This was a society diverse in ethnicity, language, and religion—one that embraced intellectual pursuits alongside the arts,” Dr. André reflects. “That cosmopolitanism is a message as relevant today as it was centuries ago.”

Beyond Military Might – The Mamluks as Patrons of Art and Knowledge

For Fakhera Al kindi, Senior Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the exhibition is also about rewriting perceptions. “What often lingers in collective memory is a one-dimensional view of the Mamluks, shaped largely by their reputation for strict military organization,” she observes. “But what truly deserves our attention is the multifaceted world they built—one of cultural, artistic, administrative, and social flourishing.”

The displays make this duality clear. Yes, the Mamluks were formidable military rulers. But they were also patrons of exquisite glass, intricate metalwork, monumental architecture, and a rich intellectual life. “They created an environment where scholars, scientists, and thinkers—men and women alike—thrived,” Al kindi says. “They commissioned dazzling artworks while simultaneously advancing knowledge in the applied and social sciences. That dynamism extended beyond their borders, shaped by trade routes, diplomacy, and the movement of pilgrims. They were a society that connected people, ideas, and goods, leaving behind a legacy that was profoundly cosmopolitan.”

Architecture stands out as one of the most powerful expressions of Mamluk identity. From the madrasas and mosques to mausoleums and hospitals, their monuments were tied to the waqf system, serving civic and religious functions while projecting the prestige of their patrons. “The Qalawun Complex in Cairo is an extraordinary example,” Al kindi notes. “It combined a madrasa, mosque, mausoleum, and an advanced hospital—an institution that was civic, spiritual, and social all at once.”

But how do you capture the scale and grandeur of such architecture within a museum setting? For Alkindi, technology offered a solution. “We turned to immersive projections, transporting visitors into the architectural splendor of 13th-century Cairo,” she explains. “They can experience soaring facades, calligraphic inscriptions, intricate marble inlays, and the inventive geometric ornamentation that defined Mamluk craftsmanship. The journey culminates in the mausoleum of Sultan Qalawun—an intimate, meditative space where sound softens, time feels suspended, and history becomes palpably close.”

‘Legacy of an Empire’ is not merely an exhibition of artifacts. It is an encounter with a society that, despite being remembered primarily for its military achievements, fostered some of the most enduring works of art, architecture, and scholarship in the Islamic world.

By weaving together objects, stories, and immersive experiences, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has created a portal into a past that feels strikingly contemporary. As Dr. André puts it: “The more we understand the Mamluks, the more we recognize that their legacy—of resilience, of cultural openness, of cosmopolitan identity—is also our legacy today.”