Urban Planning in the Early Cities of Muslim Arabs

Principles and Practice

Kamila Naim Ashour

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2026
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781978761902
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Index: Politics & International Relations

This book provides a concise reference guide on many of the early cities of the Muslim Arabs that emerged between the seventh century AD, and the early 11th century AD. Kamila Ashour traces the evolution of these cities in historical texts until the early 16th century AD, coinciding with the decline of the Mamluk state.

Urban Planning in the Early Cities of Muslim Arabs elucidates the organizational principles that shaped the urban fabric of these cities amidst ongoing controversy and debate. This book explores prototype models, urban fabric features, and their components, delving into the cultural impact of Islamic principles, Arab traditions, and ancient urban planning. The author presents theories explaining these cities' formation and models illustrating their structures and examines the applicability of these principles to contemporary cities. Its significance lies in correcting misconceptions about markets and their spatial relationships within urban environments, open public spaces, the evolution of institutions, and the urban structure of cities with single or multiple nuclei.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Title
• Contents
• Figures
• Tables
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Glossary of Arabic Terms
• Introduction
• PART I Theoretical Background
• PART II The Early Cities of Muslim Arabs
• 1 Medina
• 2 Basra
• 3 Kufa
• 4 Al-Qahira
• 5 Damascus
• 6 Aleppo
• 7 ʿAnjar
• 8 Ramla
• 9 Kairouan
• 10 Baghdad
• 11 Samarra
• 12 Fez
• 13 Cities of Wadi Mizab
• 14 Summary
• PART III Spatial Structure of Cities
• 15 Urban Spatial Structure
• 16 Urban Core and Spatial Structure
• 17 Public Squares and Inner Courtyard Buildings
• 18 Residential Quarters
• 19 Commercial and Industrial Activities
• 20 Institutions and Public Buildings
• 21 Urban Fabric
• 22 Summary
• PART IV Principles, Theory, and Models
• 23 Cultural Influence
• 24 Organic City
• 25 Models for City Planning
• 26 Principles of Planning and Applicability to Contemporary Cities
• 27 Conclusion
• Appendix
• Bibliography
• Notes
• Index
• About the Author
• Copyright