The Fatimid Caliphates were a 10th century Ismacile Shici dynasty that conquered the Ikhshidid dynasty in Egypt. The Fatimids claimed lineage rights from the Prophet Muhammad's daughter, Fatima; and existed during the golden age of Islam. “Unlike the Abbasids or Umayyads, who were led by a community-approved caliph, the Shica espoused the concept of designation, in which the Prophet Muhammad chose Ali as his successor and in which each subsequent religious leader was a divinely ordained, supreme , infallible imam who had final authority in both religious and social affairs.” In 909, the Fatimid was founded by the self-proclaimed Imam, Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi, who migrated his missionary work across Palestine and Egypt before finally settling in North Africa in the city of Raqqada. Throughout history, there have been differing opinions regarding the establishment and major objectives of the Fatimid dynasty established for economic or Islamic progression during the Golden Age of Islam; and furthermore, many argued that there was no separation between religion and government within the Fatimids. The Fatimids were said to be tolerant, compassionate, and focused on the unification of Islam; however, it has been shown that this was not always the case. Orientalists have recognized their contribution to the advancement of Islam and claim that the Christian and Jewish communities excelled in this period; but it did not happen without deception and deviations from Islamic norms and rules. This historiography will explore whether the Fatimids were actually tolerant Muslims whose actions, belief systems and practices highlighted the growth of Islam and tolerance towards other religions, or whether they were simply political... middle of paper... ./ entry/routafricanhistory/ Egypt_fatimid_caliphate---------, sv "Egypt: Fatimids, Later: 1073-1171", accessed November 23, 2013, http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=http % 3A%2F%2Fwww.credoreference. com/entry/routafricanhistory/ Egypt_fatimids_later_1073_1171 Damn, Gene William. "CAIRO OR BAGHDAD...? A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE TERROR OF EGYPT IN THE IMPERIAL DESIGN OF THE FATIMID DYNASTY (IRAQ)." Order no. 8621295, University of Michigan, 1986. http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url= http://search.proquest.com/docview/303481462?accountid=3783. Pruitt, Jennifer A. “Fatimid Architectural Patronage and Changing Sectarian Identities (969-1021).” Order no. 3385476, Harvard University, 2009. http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login? url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/304890202?accountid=3783. Yaacov, Lev. Arabica. Boston: Brill, 1988. JSTOR: 4056834 (accessed November 24, 2013).