Christian empire in Ethiopia gravitates south after the decline of Aksum; Arab and Persian merchants explore East African coast with trading stations at Malindi, Mombasa, Kilwa, and Mogadishu.

Sahadic Lives of Samuel of Qalamun, Fayyum and Pisentius of Qift, near Thebes, (both lived during Arab conquest), seeking to halt Christian assimilation; show survival of Coptic Christian identity.

Theophanes writes Chronicle (covers years 602-813.)

James, patriarch of Alexandria.

Shenute I, elected patriarch of Alexandria (859-880) at Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Old Cairo.

Photian Schism between patriarch Photius of Constantinople and Pope Nicolas I.

Tulunid caliphs rule.

Venetian Bernard the Wise reports monastery of St. Mark outside the eastern gate of Alexandria, where Mark’s body formerly reposed, stolen in 828 by Venetians (a bone returned 1968.)

Kha’il III, patriarch of Alexandria.

Stephen the Theban writes Logos Asketikos (Ascetic Sermon), Entolai and Diataxis;
Arabic texts survive at St. Saba.