As we speak we’re thrilled to announce that Age of Empires is partnering with the world’s most-visited museum, the Louvre in Paris!
On April 30th, the Louvre launched an exhibition on the Mamluk sultanate (1250-1517), a European first. The exhibition goals to share the story of this golden age of the Islamic Close to East, showcasing its breadth and richness, all instructed from a transregional perspective. The Mamluks seem in three Age of Empires titles and gamers round the world have found their prowess and story by our video games since 1999.
With a shared ardour for historical past at its coronary heart, this collaboration between Age of Empires and the Louvre serves to share the story of the Mamluks to individuals round the world and encourage them to study extra about this golden age of medieval historical past, which isn’t usually instructed.
All through the month of June, we’ll be collaborating each at the museum in Paris and on-line. For an summary of our collaboration, examine our devoted webpage.
You’ll be capable of expertise content material from the partnership at the museum, on our web sites, on social media and by way of the first ever livestream from the museum, on June 12th, starting at 11:00 AM PT (2:00 PM ET / 18:00 UTC).
We’re so honored to be working with the Louvre, we share a ardour for sharing the tales of historical past with the world.
“World’s Edge is honored to collaborate with Le Louvre. The Age of Empires franchise has been bringing historical past to life for greater than 65 million gamers round the world for nearly 30 years. We’ve all the time believed in the nice potential for our video games to spark an curiosity in historical past and tradition. We regularly hear of academics utilizing Age of Empires to show historical past to their college students and tales from our gamers about how Age of Empires has pushed them to study extra, and even to pursue historical past academically or as a profession. This chance to deliver the wonderful tales of the Mamluks to new audiences by the Louvre’s exhibition is one we’re excited to be a component of. We hope that by the wonderful work of the Louvre’s staff, the legacy of the Mamluks might be shared round the world, and that individuals get pleasure from their tales as they arrive to life by Age of Empires.”
— Michael Mann, Studio Head at World’s Edge
The Mamluks in Age of Empires
The Mamluks have been an iconic half of the Age of Empires franchise since Age of Empires II (1999). Gamers at this time can expertise these mighty warriors in Age of Empires II: Definitive Version, Age of Empires III: Definitive Version, and in Age of Empires IV (by way of the greatest-promoting Sultans Ascend DLC).
There’s extra details about how one can play as the Mamluks in Age video games on our partnership webpage.
Play as the Mamluks in an All-New Situation
To rejoice the partnership, we’re releasing a model new customized situation for Age of Empires II: Definitive Version on PC, “Ayn Jalut”. Created by World’s Edge Senior Enterprise Supervisor, and famed Age marketing campaign designer, Ramsey Abdulrahim. On this situation, you play as Baybars earlier than the pivotal battle when the destiny of the Muslim world held in the stability. Put together your forces, arrange your ambushes, and use your crafty and technique to beat the Mongol horde. Like the Mamluks, are you able to be the first to defeat the Mongols?
When completed, strive once more and greatest your mates for the highest rating!
Your entire world trembled earlier than the Mongols. Rulers of China and Persia, the fearsome horsemen swept by the cities of the Islamic world, leaving ruins. Solely Baybars and the Mamluks of Egypt stood of their means. Baybars had gathered a military at Ayn Jalut, the website the place the Biblical David slew the big Goliath. Baybars had been born a thousand miles away, however he knew the Mongols effectively: they’d slaughtered his household and offered him–as a mere boy–into slavery. At Ayn Jalut, he was decided to have his revenge–and slay his personal big.
The Mamluks and the Exhibition
The Mamluks, freed slave-troopers of primarily Turkish (and later Caucasian) origin, constructed their legend on their army prowess. They conquered the final bastions of the Crusaders, fought and repelled the Mongols, survived Timur’s invasions and saved threatening neighbors at bay, earlier than succumbing to Ottoman growth. The sultanate encompassed an unlimited territory, together with Egypt, Bilad al-Sham (modern-day Syria, Libya, Israel/Palestine and Jordan), previous of east Anatolia and the Hejaz area of Arabia, which incorporates Mecca and Medina.
The exhibition takes guests past the army legend of the Mamluk sultanate and reveals the advanced and multi-faceted society they fashioned. They created a world by which sultans mingled with emirs and wealthy civil elites, all actively participating in creative patronage. Girls had energetic roles in Mamluk society, in addition to Christian and Jewish minorities. At the assembly level of Europe, Africa and Asia, individuals and concepts circulated, in addition to arts and commerce.
The exhibition is an unprecedented alternative to find this wonderful and but little-recognized empire, by a set of masterpieces from round the world. Guests can be uncovered to a brand new perspective on medieval Egypt and the Close to East.
To be sure you can get pleasure from all the partnership content material, be sure you’re following Age of Empires and the Louvre on social media!