Urbanism in Arabia

Whitcomb, Donald

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0471.1996.tb00086.x

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In due course, medieval tribal groups specialised in a strategy of multi-centred settlements, grouping in fortified villages (sūq), a situation described by Western explorers in the nineteenth century (Burckhardt, 1822). Such groupings of tribal units stood, in some cases, at the origin of the ancient cities of the desert, as in Petra and Palmyra (Dentzer, 2000), but also in southern Arabia (Schiettecatte, 2011), or later Islamic Arab cities such as Medina (Whitcomb, 1996).…”

Section: Su M M a Rymentioning

confidence: 99%

The “walled oases” phenomenon. A study of the ramparts in Dūmat al‐Jandal and other pre‐Islamic sites in north‐western Arabia

Charloux¹,

al-Malki²,

AlQaeed³

2021

Arab Archaeol Epigr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present article focuses on a long‐lasting phenomenon that has not yet been treated from a regional and comparative perspective, despite its exceptional character: the walled oases of north‐western Arabia. It appears that several oases in the region (Al‐Ḥuwayyiṭ, Dūmat al‐Jandal, Ḥāʾiṭ, Khaybar, Qurayyah and Taymāʾ) were entirely, or in large part, enclosed by outer walls prior to the Islamic era. These compounds comprised not only densely populated areas but the whole oasis territory, including rural zones and sometimes burial grounds. Measuring several kilometres in length, these immense defensive schemes required considerable investment by indigenous populations for their construction and maintenance until their disuse. According to our research, the walled oases phenomenon in north‐western Arabia originated sometime in the late fourth−early third millennium BCE, possibly inspired by Early Bronze Age southern Levant defensive concepts, and further expanded in connection with the emergence of the trans‐Arabian trade and the caravan kingdoms. These conclusions are based on the detailed technological study of the ramparts of the oasis of Dūmat al‐Jandal and on the analysis of satellite imagery and scientific literature on other sites in north‐western Arabia.

show abstract

Section: Su M M a Rymentioning

confidence: 99%

The “walled oases” phenomenon. A study of the ramparts in Dūmat al‐Jandal and other pre‐Islamic sites in north‐western Arabia

Charloux¹,

al-Malki²,

AlQaeed³

2021

Arab Archaeol Epigr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Abbasid site of al‐Rabadhah, on the Darb az‐Zubeidah in Saudi Arabia, is made up of fortified buildings and densely built, outside quarters (al‐Rashid 1986: fig. 21; Whitcomb 1996: 44). The various models that address the origin of cities in Arabia (in early medieval times) always emphasise the juxtaposition of social groups as the basis of the different quarters of expanding cities: either clans of the same tribe, each with a specific activity or handicraft (W. Dostal’s model for Sana’a), or a multi‐tribal centre developed in a place of supra‐tribal significance (W. Dostal’s model for Khatt and Tarim), or a mosaic of merchant groups surrounded by their extended families and clientele (E.R.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The settlement patterns of north‐eastern and south‐eastern Arabia in late antiquity

Mouton¹

2009

Arab Archaeol Epigr

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The east Arabian settlements in antiquity were never large urban sites. However, they were the main centres of the communities that inhabited that area, interfacing between the nomadic and sedentary societies. A study of the distribution and characteristics of these sites reveals different, complementary functions. They were organized in local networks forming the essential structure of the settlement pattern and delineating the territories of communities having their own political identity.

show abstract

Early Islamic Urbanism

Northedge¹

2017

A Companion to Islamic Art and Architecture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urbanism in Arabia

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

The “walled oases” phenomenon. A study of the ramparts in Dūmat al‐Jandal and other pre‐Islamic sites in north‐western Arabia

The “walled oases” phenomenon. A study of the ramparts in Dūmat al‐Jandal and other pre‐Islamic sites in north‐western Arabia

The settlement patterns of north‐eastern and south‐eastern Arabia in late antiquity

Early Islamic Urbanism

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About