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From Polis to Medina: Urbanism and Fortification around the Mediterranean

From Polis to Medina: Urbanism and Fortification around the Mediterranean. Florence, Italy. Cairo, Egypt. Historical periods of Islamic cultures. Early period (622-900) Centralized empire. Middle period ( 900-1500) Regional centers and local powers. Late period (1500-1800)

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From Polis to Medina: Urbanism and Fortification around the Mediterranean

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  1. From Polis to Medina: Urbanism and Fortification around the Mediterranean Florence, Italy Cairo, Egypt

  2. Historical periods of Islamic cultures Early period (622-900) Centralized empire Middle period (900-1500) Regional centers and local powers Late period (1500-1800) Supra-regional powers

  3. Arab – geneaological, linguistic, or cultural identification Arabic-speaking countries today

  4. I. Urbanization new and old around the Mediterranean: European and Arab cultures 1. Florence, Italy (communal period city), 13th cen. Cairo, Egypt from Fustat to Saladin’s Citadel

  5. I. A. What was the pattern of settlement in the medieval era of successive Arab rulers? 3. Fatimid dynasty 909-1167 Cairo, Egypt 1087: al-Qahira Fustat 1st Fustat 1st

  6. I. A. 4. The Citadel of Saladin, completed 1184, Cairo Citadel with the Alabaster Mosque, 1830-57 (and tomb of Mohammad Ali Pasha, ruler of Egypt, 1830-48)

  7. I. A. 1. The example of the Fatimid palace/citadel, al-Qahira (“the Victorious”), a royal palace/citadel within a city. al-Qahira (Fatamid palace/citadel)

  8. I. A. 2. How does this system of successive citadels compare to earlier patterns of urban conquest in Europe and elsewhere? Florence, Italy (three rings of walls) Cairo, Egypt

  9. I. A. 2. Roman: the center Mesopotamian: the edge Florence (Roman Florentia), Italy Khorsabad, Iraq

  10. II.Medieval fortifications: the design of city walls in Europe and the Arab world Crac des Chevaliers (Qal'at al-Ḥiṣn) Syria, 1142-1213 Crusades 11th – 13th centuries crusader castle, Knights Hospitaller order

  11. II. A. What offensive attack weapons were medieval fortifications designed to withstand? 1. Old: ballista (Greek & Roman) battering ram siege tower

  12. II. A. 2. New: ballista (Greek & Roman) the trebuchet (medieval innovation)

  13. II. B. Defensive systems: medieval (really Byzantine) improvements on Roman fortified walls City walls of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople curtain wall defensive towers

  14. II. B. Double circuit of walls, Constantinople inner enceinte outer enceinte

  15. II. B. 1. machicolation machicolation- a projection at the top of a wall from which missiles an be dropped down against an invading enemy

  16. II. B. 1. Crusader Castle, Crac des Chevaliers, Syria, 1142-1213 rampart machicolations box machicolation

  17. II. B. 2. wood hoardings attack by mobile siege tower Defense from wood hoarding mounted on the curtain wall Wood hoarding mounted on curtain wall with or w/o machicolations Ditch filled by attackers

  18. II. B. 3. at the gates a. a portcullis 2. portcullis - a heavy barred gate that moves vertically up and down in a fortress gateway Cairo (al-Qahira) Bab al-Futuh gate

  19. II. B. 3. b. arrow slits Cairo (al-Qahira) Bab al-Futuh gate arrow slits

  20. II. B. 3. c. murder holes

  21. II. C. Arab improvements on the Byzantine fortification techniques added by Saladin Saladin (1137-93) Kurdish general, leader of the Arab forces against the Crusaders paved sloped grade in front of gates Bab al-Futuh

  22. II. C. al-Qahira fortification wall columns laid horizontally paved sloped grade in front of gates

  23. II. D. Symbolism of city walls: in what ways do cities imbue their walls with divine protection and/or city pride? al-Qahira fortification wall and gates Bab al-Zuwayla

  24. II. D. Florence, Italy – a medieval commune Florence (as seen in 1470), communal city walls, 1274-1333

  25. III. Urbanism (street patterns) within the walls of European and Arab cities III. A. How can we account for the maintenance of the ancient Roman grid into the medieval period and beyond in European cities like Florence? 7. former Roman street in medieval Florence Roman colony, Florence, Italy typical residential street in Damascus Damascus, Syria

  26. III. B. How can we account for the evolution of suqs and winding street paths of Arab cities in the Mediterranean? Cairo, Egypt Inside al-Qahira

  27. III. B. economic determinism partially covered suqs inside al-Qahira Silk market al Ghuriyya al Ghuriyya today

  28. III. B. Roman colony Timgad, Algeria Suq in Aleppo, Syria (former Roman decumanus) Transformation of Roman colonnaded street under Arab rule

  29. III. B. 2. prevailing notions of public and private medieval merchant palaces on the Palace Walk (Bayn al-Qasrayn) street Emir Bashtak’s house

  30. II. B. 3. What are some public amenities financed by wealthy citizens schools, mausolea, and hospitals

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