584:, a German archeologist who produced between 1905 and 1913 a large body of work including translations, drawings, field notes, photographs, and objects inventories from his excavations at Samarra and elsewhere in Iraq and Iran. Concerned with the critical problems found in the original descriptive texts, Herzfeld, an architect by profession, offered new interpretations and developed new plans of the Round City of Baghdad. His study was more related to the description, arrangement, and function of the city's main buildings, contrasting with the more urbanistic approach of Le Strange. His reconstructions were celebrated as the first "major architectural work on this subject," accepted by subsequent scholars. One of them was British art historian
596:, who presented a new critical interpretation based on the original texts "Tarikh Baghdad, (A History of Baghdad)," the "Geographical Dictionary" by al-Baghdadi and Ya'qubi, and the assessments made by Herzfeld and Creswell in the beginning of the 20th century. Lassner's "The Topography of Baghdad in the Early Middle Ages" (1970) and "The Shaping of Abbasid Rule" (1980) presented a new concept of the city plan and a contrasting view of its architectural function and historical development in the earliest period, improving understanding of the city's design. In Lassner's studies, at least four previously held ideas about the al-Mansur's city were revised.
205:
575:"(...) the real basis of the present reconstruction of the medieval plan is the description of the Canals of Baghdad written by Ibn Serapion in about the year a.d. 900. By combining the network of the water system, as described by this writer, with the radiating high-roads, as described by his contemporary Yakubi, it has been possible to plot out the various quarters of older Baghdad, filling in details from the accounts of other authorities, which, taken alone, would have proved too fragmentary to serve for any systematic reconstruction of the plan."
68:
600:
Abbasid assumption of
Iranian rulership, being more a visible manifestation of the Abbasid inheritance of Persian Sassanian urban design royal tradition. Third, he rejects the claims that the palace-city had symbolic cosmological significance "simply because there are no explicit statements in the sources connecting the caliph with such symbolism." Finally, he affirms that "The Round City was, in fact, an administrative center, and not at all a city in the conventional sense of the term."
61:
310:
sources do not agree on the size of the city.) The original design shows a ring of residential and commercial structures along the inside of the city walls, but the final construction added another ring, inside the first. In the center of the city lay the caliphal palace, the mosque, as well as headquarters for guards. The purpose or use of the remaining space in the center is unknown. The circular design of the city was a direct reflection of the traditional
Persian
45:
571:, a British Orientalist prominent in the field of historical geography. His work "Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate: from contemporary Arabic and Persian sources," (1900) revisited, among other scholars, the work of Serapion and Ya'qubi to reconstruct a plan of the old city. Le Strange himself wrote in the preface of his book:
551:, was likely to have attracted scholars of several disciplines. Among them, geographers, historians, or simple chroniclers provided extensive descriptions of the Madinat al-Mansur even years after the city's fading. All the information we have today related to the physical characteristics, structural functions, and social life in
591:
The lack of archeological excavations at the surmised location of the Round City means the task of reconstructing the
Medinat al-Mansur is mostly a hypothetical exercise. The topic was revisited in the second half of the 20th century in new contexts. One of the more recent scholars who has undertaken
555:
Baghdad comes from these literary sources which were revisited in the 20th century. Some of the most important surviving literary sources from the late 10th and 11th centuries in
Baghdad are "Description of Mesopotamia and Baghdad," written by Ibn Serapion; "Tarikh Baghdad (A History of Baghdad)", by
579:
A few years after Le
Strange's first publication of the Round City's plan, a wave of German and British excavations was commissioned by emerging museums and universities. Two scholars re-re-visited the topic while working in Iraq, conducting excavations in neighboring cities like Samarra. The first
297:
elements in the population and urban environment, although there may not have been any major
Persian settlement in the village of Baghdad or its surrounding communities: all of which were absorbed into the new city of Baghdad. Rather, the Persian elements appeared after the foundation of the new
599:
First, Lassner rejected the idea that al-Mansûr himself, "who had no known experience in architectural design (or with round structures) could have personally created ex nihilo such a sophisticated and unusual design." Second, he argues against the view that
Baghdad's building was a sign of the
309:
The city was designed as a circle about 1 km (0.62 mi) in radius, leading it to be known as the "Round City". Given this figure, it may be estimated that the original area of the city, shortly after its construction, was around 3 km (1.2 sq mi) (However, the historical
220:, the plans for the city were drawn up, but it was not until 2 August 762 that construction began, under the supervision of four architects. Huge resources were amassed for the project: the Arab chroniclers report 100,000 workers and craftsmen, and sums of 18 million
318:
is nearly identical in its general circular design, radiating avenues, and the government buildings and temples at the center of the city. This points to the fact that it was based on
Persian precedents. The two designers who were hired by
414:
The residents were of two types: military people who were settled by the caliph, and a large number ordinary people who later settled in the city for economic opportunities. The second group were mostly
1170:
262:, which was located some 30 km (19 mi) to the southeast, which had been under Muslim control since 637, and which became quickly deserted after the foundation of Baghdad. The site of
236:, as well as some of the administration offices, were apparently completed by 763, allowing al-Mansur to move his residence into the city, and the rest of the Round City was completed by 766.
243:. Mansur loved the site so much he is quoted saying, "This is indeed the city that I am to found, where I am to live, and where my descendants will reign afterward". The goal was to replace
588:, whose 1932 publication of the first volume of his monumental survey "Early Muslim Architecture" remains widely acknowledged as an essential reference for early Islamic architecture.
894:
1180:
1175:
302:
influence, early
Persian military settlement, continuous immigration by Persian scholars, and the late arrival of rulers of Persian origin (such as the
969:
111:
733:
60:
1149:
917:
865:
840:
770:
709:
1084:
1200:
1190:
547:
As the host of one of the major intellectual centers in the
Abbasid Caliphs, the Grand Library of Baghdad, also known as
1165:
204:
247:
as the seat of the caliphal government; however, a city of Baghdad is mentioned in pre-Islamic texts, including the
1101:
499:
to Baghdad in 768, a second wave of Persian military people settled there. There were also noble Iranian families
1195:
1072:
567:
The definite revelation for the academic community of the existence of the Round City of Baghdad was recorded by
408:
378:
233:
229:
539:
of Yemen, also of Persian origin. The Persians of Baghdad were gradually acculturated by the early 9th century.
1185:
1080:
806:
684:
377:
None of the structures of the city has survived, and information are based on literary sources. The caliphal
779:
614:
564:. These three books have constituted the foundation and required reading for modern research on the matter.
182:
557:
400:
523:
388:
332:
299:
168:
in 762–766 CE as the official residence of the Abbasid court. Its official name in Abbasid times was
239:
Mansur believed that Baghdad was the perfect city to be the capital of the Islamic empire under the
783:
371:
1050:
1011:
951:
875:
266:, which had been deserted since the 2nd century, lies some 90 km (56 mi) to the south.
1111:
1042:
1003:
965:
913:
861:
836:
766:
715:
705:
585:
552:
270:
737:
362:"). This too is similar to the round cities of Darabgard and Gor, which had four gates. The
957:
609:
428:
404:
355:
339:
311:
294:
887:
548:
424:
395:
prayer-hall with wooden columns supporting its flat roof. The caliphal palace featured an
259:
193:
173:
704:. Marguerite Gautier-van Berchem (2nd ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 8–9.
1123:
1096:
1088:
581:
568:
476:
209:
1127:
992:"The Plan of the City of Peace: Central asian Iranian Factors in Early Abbasid Design"
370:, was located near the Bab al-Khorasan. The Khorasan Gate marked the beginning of the
44:
1159:
1092:
1076:
593:
480:
407:). Building materials was mostly brick (sometimes strengthened by reeds), reflecting
17:
464:
460:
363:
1129:
Baghdad During the Abbasid Caliphate. From Contemporary Arabic and Persian Sources
934:
936:
Baghdad During the Abbasid Caliphate From Contemporary Arabic and Persian Sources
468:
432:
381:
and the main mosque were located at the centre of the circle. Influenced by the
359:
328:
251:, and the Abbasid city was likely built on the site of this earlier settlement.
533:, literally "sons of the state"), but also said to be echoing the title of the
561:
484:
343:
315:
221:
217:
1115:
1046:
1007:
126:
113:
500:
420:
392:
367:
320:
286:
255:
165:
961:
719:
860:(1st ed.). New York, N.Y.: Abbeville Press Publishers. p. 156.
856:
Curatola, introduction by Donny George ; edited by Giovanni (2007).
535:
508:
492:
351:
324:
240:
1054:
1030:
1015:
991:
699:
496:
488:
383:
347:
282:
269:
The old Baghdad was a small village, and despite its name, which is of
263:
161:
157:
95:
1143:
303:
290:
248:
244:
225:
560:, and the "Geographical Dictionary" by the geographer and historian
1031:"The Caliph's Personal Domain: The City Plan of Baghdad Reexamined"
504:
416:
203:
396:
99:
807:"BAGHDAD i. Before the Mongol Invasion – Encyclopaedia Iranica"
49:
Baghdad under the early Abbasid caliphs, with the Round City
950:
Flood, Finbarr Barry; Necipoğlu, Gülru, eds. (2017-08-21).
910:
Islam : 01 AH – 250 AH : a chronology of events
800:
798:
796:
794:
435:, who were settled in the northwestern district known as
543:
Modern references to the "discovery" of the Round City
1171:
Buildings and structures completed in the 8th century
631:
629:
399:
and a dome-chamber immediately behind it, resembling
912:(1. ed.). New York: Message Publ. p. 159.
511:). The descendants of these Iranians took the title
187:
142:
105:
91:
83:
281:"gifted"), the original inhabitants were probably
996:Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
314:urban design. The ancient Sasanian city of Gur/
580:one to improve Le Strange's initial plan was
67:
8:
662:Baghdad: Metropolis of the Abbasid Caliphate
528:
516:
454:
440:
208:The Round City of Baghdad, reconstructed by
30:
1132:(Second ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
953:A Companion to Islamic Art and Architecture
1102:The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition
487:, and a mosque dedicated to the people of
335:, a Persian Jewish astrologer/astronomer.
43:
29:
1110:. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 894–908.
893:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
761:Hattstein, Markus; Peter Delius (2000).
858:The art and architecture of Mesopotamia
625:
366:, the main palace of Baghdad built by
939:. Harvard University. Clarendon Press.
883:
873:
985:
983:
981:
7:
647:
635:
289:. The new city, however, was mainly
27:Original core of the city of Baghdad
1181:Buildings and structures in Baghdad
1176:Baghdad under the Abbasid Caliphate
734:"Abbasid Ceramics: Plan of Baghdad"
529:
517:
455:
441:
192:). The famous library known as the
177:
685:"Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica"
31:The City of Peace / Al-Mansur City
25:
1144:Al-Mansur's Round City of Baghdad
990:Beckwith, Christopher I. (1984).
196:was located within its grounds.
66:
59:
833:Islamic Science and Engineering
358:"), and Bab al-Basra ("gate of
323:to plan the city's design were
423:. The first group were mostly
391:, the mosque was built with a
354:"), Bab al-Khorasan ("gate of
1:
293:-speaking, with considerable
87:The City of Peace / Al-Mansur
698:Creswell, K. A. C. (1969).
479:", or possibly people from
188:
1217:
1150:Baghdad (Madinat al-Salam)
908:Hijazi, Abu Tariq (1994).
763:Islam Art and Architecture
664:. Univ. of Oklahoma Press.
556:the scholar and historian
346:"), Bab al-Sham ("gate of
701:Early Muslim architecture
409:Mesopotamian architecture
403:(such as that of Gor and
379:Palace of the Golden Gate
230:Palace of the Golden Gate
54:
42:
35:
1152:in "islamic art" website
831:Hill, Donald R. (1994).
765:. Könemann. p. 96.
342:: Bab al-Kufa ("gate of
156:is the original core of
1029:Lassner, Jacob (1968).
933:Guy Le Strange (1900).
615:List of circular cities
507:) and the Sulids (from
491:. As the future caliph
577:
401:Sasanian palace design
224:or 100 million silver
213:
1201:Sasanian architecture
962:10.1002/9781119069218
660:Wiet, Gaston (1971).
586:Sir K. A. C. Creswell
573:
558:Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi
300:Persian architectural
258:, the capital of the
207:
154:Round City of Baghdad
127:33.34750°N 44.33500°E
84:Alternative name
18:Round City of Baghdad
1191:Abbasid architecture
1146:in "archnet" website
1071:Duri, A. A. (1960).
780:Encyclopædia Iranica
650:, pp. 896, 897.
483:), a suburb for the
389:Iranian architecture
333:Mashallah ibn Athari
784:Columbia University
549:The House of Wisdom
471:), a suburb of the
372:Great Khorasan Road
298:city, and included
123: /
32:
1166:766 establishments
1085:Lévi-Provençal, E.
886:has generic name (
387:design of ancient
214:
132:33.34750; 44.33500
1035:Kunst des Orients
971:978-1-119-06921-8
811:Iranicaonline.org
459:, for those from
254:Baghdad eclipsed
186:
150:
149:
75:Shown within Iraq
16:(Redirected from
1208:
1196:Planned capitals
1133:
1119:
1059:
1058:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1002:(1/2): 143–164.
987:
976:
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947:
941:
940:
930:
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923:
905:
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828:
822:
821:
819:
817:
802:
789:
776:
755:
749:
748:
746:
745:
736:. Archived from
730:
724:
723:
695:
689:
688:
681:
675:
674:Ket. 7b, Zeb. 9a
672:
666:
665:
657:
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610:Gates of Baghdad
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531:
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463:i.e. modern-day
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189:Madīnat as-Salām
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63:
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33:
21:
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1205:
1186:Culture of Iraq
1156:
1155:
1140:
1124:Le Strange, Guy
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1070:
1067:
1062:
1028:
1027:
1023:
989:
988:
979:
972:
949:
948:
944:
932:
931:
927:
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868:
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830:
829:
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815:
813:
804:
803:
792:
773:
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756:
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743:
741:
732:
731:
727:
712:
697:
696:
692:
683:
682:
678:
673:
669:
659:
658:
654:
646:
642:
634:
627:
623:
606:
592:the subject is
545:
260:Sasanian Empire
228:. The caliphal
202:
194:House of Wisdom
160:, built by the
131:
129:
125:
122:
117:
114:
112:
110:
109:
79:
78:
77:
76:
73:
72:
71:
50:
38:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1214:
1212:
1204:
1203:
1198:
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1138:External links
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1077:Gibb, H. A. R.
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835:. p. 10.
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638:, p. 896.
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569:Guy Le Strange
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524:abnāʾ al-dawla
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884:|first1=
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740:on 2004-09-02
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521:), short for
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216:According to
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170:City of Peace
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1041:(1): 24–36.
1038:
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1024:
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928:
909:
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826:
814:. Retrieved
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805:Kennedy, H.
762:
753:
742:. Retrieved
738:the original
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643:
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530:أبناء الدولة
522:
512:
485:Khwarezmians
472:
461:Marw al-Rudh
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446:
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382:
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364:Khuld Palace
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308:
278:
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268:
253:
238:
215:
178:مدينة السلام
169:
153:
151:
37:مدينة السلام
1097:Pellat, Ch.
1089:Schacht, J.
495:moved from
469:Afghanistan
451:Marwrūdiyya
433:Transoxania
329:Zoroastrian
327:, a former
234:main mosque
222:gold dinars
200:Description
130: /
106:Coordinates
1160:Categories
816:24 January
744:2004-09-02
621:References
453:division (
419:and local
340:four gates
316:Firouzabad
285:-speaking
146:Settlement
118:44°20′06″E
115:33°20′51″N
1116:495469456
1106:Volume I:
1093:Lewis, B.
1073:"Baghdād"
1047:0023-5393
1008:0001-6446
956:. Wiley.
876:cite book
648:Duri 1960
636:Duri 1960
501:Barmakids
449:included
421:Nabateans
405:Sarvestan
393:hypostyle
368:al-Mansur
321:al-Mansur
287:Nabateans
256:Ctesiphon
183:romanized
166:al-Mansur
1126:(1922).
1099:(eds.).
1055:20752346
1016:23657647
786:, p.413.
604:See also
493:Al-Mahdi
477:Persians
456:مرورودية
447:Harbiyya
437:Harbiyya
429:Khorasan
425:Persians
356:Khorasan
352:Damascus
325:Naubakht
312:Sasanian
277:"god" +
273:origin (
241:Abbasids
232:and the
92:Location
1065:Sources
562:Ya'qubi
553:Abbasid
497:al-Rayy
489:Bukhara
465:Murghab
445:). The
384:apadana
348:al-Sham
295:Persian
283:Aramaic
271:Iranian
264:Babylon
226:dirhams
218:Ya'qubi
185::
164:Caliph
162:Abbasid
158:Baghdad
96:Baghdad
1114:
1095:&
1053:
1045:
1014:
1006:
968:
916:
864:
839:
769:
720:227024
718:
708:
509:Gurgan
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