Applications of naphth and gunpowder in warfare implementations in Mamluk furusiyya art

This thesis focuses on the manufacture and use of tools described in furūsiyya works written during the Mamluk period, specifically those involving naphtha, gunpowder, and various oils used to create incendiary and explosive mixtures. The tools used in wars are as significant as the outcomes of the battles themselves. Each new war tool introduces a different dynamic to the warfare. The use of fire in battles is particularly favoured due to its terrifying and destructive effects. Two fundamental materials that provide incendiary and explosive power in wars, naphtha and gunpowder, have significantly altered the course of battles. Furūsiyya works authored during the Mamluk period discuss incendiary and explosive tools. These works began in earnest during the Abbasid period and were most intensively written after the Crusader and Mongol invasions. The furūsiyya literature covers not only military horsemanship but also incendiary and explosive tools used in land and naval battles. These tools were prepared using substances such as gunpowder, naphtha, gum, and resin, and their preparation was documented by military experts of the time. Hasan er-Rammâh, Muhammad bin Manglī, and Aranbugha al-Zardkāsh were top military experts of these centuries. Some of the tools prepared using gunpowder and naphtha include arrows, spears, torpedoes, vessels called qidr, fire-igniting bottles, and debbûs. Historical records, poetry, and archaeological evidence provide insights into the use of these tools. This study aims to reveal the function of incendiary and burning devices in the development of military technology during the Mamluk period, and to highlight the importance of the furūsiyya literature in the transmission of military knowledge. Keywords: Mamluks, furūsiyya, gunpowder, naphtha