Mamluk architecture was the architectural style under the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517), which ruled over Egypt , the Levant , and the Hijaz from their capital, Cairo . Despite their often tumultuous internal politics, the Mamluk sultans were prolific patrons of architecture and contributed enormously to the fabric of historic Cairo . [1] The Mamluk period, particularly in the 14th century, oversaw the peak of Cairo's power and prosperity. [2] Their architecture also appears in cities such as Damascus , Jerusalem , Aleppo , Tripoli , and Medina . Major Mamluk monuments typically consisted of multi-functional complexes which could combine various elements such as a patron's mausoleum, a madrasa , a khanqah ( Sufi lodge), a mosque , a sabil , or other charitable functions found in Islamic architecture . These complexes were built w...