Evaluate the impact on the Fatimid Empire of either al-Hakim (996–1021) or al-Mustansir (1036–1094).

The question requires that candidates appraise the impact on the Fatimid Empire of one of al-Hakim or al-Mustansir. Such appraisal could include, but need not be limited to, effectiveness of their policies, their relations with other rulers and/or religious groups or how effectively they responded to challenges to the empire. Candidates may suggest that al-Hakim had a positive impact in that he expanded the empire and was closely involved with the development of Cairo as the capital. They may also critique al-Hakim’s impact, noting that he became known for his intolerance particularly towards Christians and has been perceived as being an arbitrary ruler with many decrees against religious groups. For al-Mustansir, while his 60-year reign was the longest of the Fatimid dynasty, it has associations with a period of prolonged decline. Although the empire was prosperous during the first decades of al-Mustansir’s reign, a prolonged famine between 1065 and 1071, a consequence of agricultural neglect, was a watershed. From this point, Egypt endured several internal crises that were largely caused by maladministration and led to a state of almost total collapse in the government of the empire. Under this pressure, al-Mustansir summoned Badr al-Jamali, the governor of Acre, to Egypt to provide support. Henceforth, al-Jamali ruled the caliphate in all but name until 1094.