The Mamluks: From the Arabic mamluk, owned one or slave, the Mamluks were imported slaves, mostly of Turkish or Caucasian stock, who were destined for a military career: a curious phenomenon that is not encountered outside the Islamic world. The Mamluks of al-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub took over after the death of their master and ruled Egypt and Syria form 1250-1517.