Saladin's Secret Weapon: The Spice Routes That Funded an Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the economic engine behind Saladin's victories: the spice routes. From the Red Sea ports of Aydhab and Qusayr to the caravan cities of Damascus and Cairo, we trace how Saladin's control of the spice trade funded his armies, built his navy, and financed the reconquest of Jerusalem in 1187. We hear from his chroniclers Baha ad-Din and Imad ad-Din, and the administrator al-Qadi al-Fadil, who ran the diwan that turned pepper and frankincense into siege engines. We also examine Saladin's controversial decision to tax pilgrims and his rivalry with the Italian maritime republics. This episode reveals the logistics and economics of the Ayyubid state, showing how a sultan's real power often lay not in his sword, but in his customs houses and caravan routes. #Saladin #SpiceRoutes #Ayyubid #RedSea #Damascus #Cairo #Aydhab #Qusayr #al-Qadi al-Fadil #Baha ad-Din #Imad ad-Din #Jerusalem1187 #IslamicHistory #Crusades #MedievalTrade #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo