Final answer:
The hajj had a significant impact on Cairo, leading to economic prosperity as the city became an important hub for trade and intellectual exchange, facilitated by the protection and infrastructure provided by the devout Mamluk rulers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of the hajj on Cairo can be multifaceted, including economic prosperity, cultural exchange, religious transformation, and political stability. During the period of the Mamluk Sultanate, particularly between 1260 and 1341, Cairo flourished as an important center for Muslim intellectual culture and architecture. The influx of merchants and scholars, due to Mamluk rulers being pious Muslims who protected pilgrims and invested in significant infrastructure, contributed to a robust economy, vibrant cultural exchanges, and a strong sense of religious identity and community that established the region as an influential Islamic center. In this context, economic prosperity was perhaps the most visible impact, as the city saw growth from the increased number of pilgrims performing the hajj, and merchants and intellectuals brought new technology, science, and mathematics to the Arab world. Consequently, Cairo's market thrived, and its intellectual and cultural life enriched, acting as a magnet for knowledge and commerce.