Islamic Cities
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• Islamic cities after Islamic conquests of 7^th and 8^th cities. Classical cities change. Kennedy makes point public space only as strong as the authorities that administer its protection. Roman civic authority strong – Islamic state more minimalist. The Muslims encroach upon public space.
• Reflects ideological difference – Islamic law based on unit of house and family – move where they like as long as it does not affect their neighbour. Emphasis, as in domestic environment, linked strongly to private / public, male / female
• Commerce was viewed as more meritorious than government service (unlike Roman values) – thus natural commercial development takes precedence over formal planning – colonnaded streets into suqs – increasing retail outlets and gradually eroding the width of streets. Interaction ideological and economic.
• This intrusion into public life does not necessarily represent a decline, change. Indeed can be said some cities, like Damascus, increased vitality as a result of these changes.

Other Notes in this Category

1. Amenity Versus Enterprise
2. Archeaology of Islam
3. Arguments in Stone
4. Authourity and Cult
5. Conclusions
6. Contemporary and Future
7. Early Islamic and European Change
8. Introduction
9. Islamic Cities
10. Muslim Settlements

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