URBAN PLANNING IN UMAYYAD’S

PERIOD

INTRODUCTION:

The Umayyads dynasty was the first Muslim dynasty to rule caliphate from
(661-750 CE). The Umayyads were family of merchant from Mecca who
converted to Islam in 627. They were known for their religious tolerance
and their contributions to art, culture and science.

FOUNDING:
 Muawiyah 1, a contemporary of the prophet Muhammad, founded the Umayyad
dynasty in 661 CE.
 Muawiyah defeated Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law, to become the fifth
caliph.

Expansion:
 The Umayyads empire stretched from Spain to Central Asia and India during the
region of ABD-AL-MALIK (685-705)
 The Umayyads conquered North Africa, Spain, Tranoxiana, and parts of the Indian
subcontinent.

DECLINE:
 The Umayyads were overthrown by Abbasid dynasty in 750 CE at the Battle of the
GREAT ZAB RIVER.
 The last caliph, Marwan 11, was killed while feeling The Abbasid forces

ACHIEVMENTS:
 The Umayyads established the political authority of the caliphate.
 The Umayyads established many religious, economic, and cultural mainstays
 The Umayyads are known for their “desert palaces” or “castles”.

URBAN PLANNING
URBAN DEVELOPMENT: The Umayyads made significant contributions to urban
development. They expanded cities, built new administrative centers, and developed
infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water systems. The city of Anjar in modern-day

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Lebanon is a prime example. Founded by Caliph Al-Wahid I, Anjar features a carefully
planned layout with colonnaded streets, palaces, and public baths.

BACKGROUND ON UMAYYAD URBANIZATION:

The Umayyads ruled a vast empire stretching from Spain to Central Asia, necessitating the
established of new cities and adaptation of existing ones. The rapid expansion of Islam
required the development of capitals, military strongholds, and economic hubs. Cities like
Damascus, Fustat, and Kairouan became key centers of governance, commerce and religious
life. The urban fabric of these cities was characterized by well-planned streets, centralized
mosques, market (souqs), and government buildings. (Kennedy n.d.)

(MAP OF UMAYYAD DYNASTY SHOWING EXPANSION)

KEY FEATURES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT:

CITY PLANNING:
Umayyad cities followed a structured layout centered around a grand mosque, which served
as both a religious and social hub. Surrounding the mosque were administrative buildings,
palaces, and bustling and marketplaces. Residential areas were organized based on social
hierarchy, with distinct quarters for different ethnic from external threats. (Hillenbrand n.d.)

ARVHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT:
The Umayyads introduced monumental architecture
projects that reflected both Islamic identity and influences
of previous civilization. The great mosque of Damascus,
one of the most significant structures of the period, featured
a vast courtyard, intricate mosaics, and towering minarets.
Other notable examples include the dome of the rock in

Figure 1 Mosque of Dmascus

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Jerusalem and the desert of Jordan, which showcased elaborate geometric patterns,
calligraphy and ornamental mosaics. (Grabar n.d.)

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURES:

The mosque played a central role in Umayyad urban development, serving as a place of
worship, education, and governance. Madrasas (Islamic school) and libraries began to
emerge, fostering intellectual growth. Water management systems, such as aqueducts and
cisterns, ensured a stable water for growing urban populations. Public baths (hammams) and
caravanserais (roadside inns) further enhanced urban life, facilitating trade and hygiene.
(Creswell n.d.)

Figure 2 The Great UMAYYAD MOSQUE

NOTEABLE CITIES AND THEIR URBAN FEATURES

DAMAMSCUS:
As the Umayyad capital, Damascus exemplified the grandeur of Islamic urban planning. The
city’s Great Mosque, built on site of a Byzantine church, integrated Roman colonnades and a
vast prayer hall, setting a precedent for future Islamic architecture. (Flood n.d.)
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 Figure 3 the Islamic plan of Damascus

FUSTAT(Egypt):
Fustat, the first Islamic capital of Egypt, developed as a major commercial hub. It featured a
well-organized street network, large mosques, and a thriving marketplace that connected the
region to global trade routes. (Lassner n.d.)

ANJAR(Lebanon):
Anjar was a large planned city that demonstrated the Umayyad preference for geometric
layouts. The city was divided into quarters, with a palace, mosques, and markets arranged
symmetrically, reflecting Roman and Byzantine influences. (Kennedy n.d.)

MADINAT AL-ZAHRA(Spain):
In Al-Andalus, the Umayyads built Madinat ul-Zahra as a symbol of their political and
cultural dominance. The city was adorned with luxurious palaces, gardens, intricate
decorative motifs that influenced later Islamic architecture in Spain. (Dodds n.d.)

ARGUMENT AND ANALYSIS

Cultural, Political, and Technological Influence
The Umayyads dynasty (661-750) left a lasting impact on urban development through fusion
a political power through a fusion of political power, cultural identity, and technological
advancements. The urban planning was not merely functional but was also a means of
solidifying control over newly conquered lands. The construction of monumental structures

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such as The DOME of the Rock (Jerusalem,691 CE) AND THE Great Mosque of
Damascus (completed in 715 CE) reinforced the dynasty’s legitimacy by merging Islamic
religious identity with established urban landscapes that previously belonged to Byzantine
and Persian empires.

One of the key political strategies of the Umayyads was the transformation of pre-existing
urban centers. Cities like Damascus and Fustat were expanded rather than newly created,
showcasing a policy of integration rather displacement. This approach allowed them to
benefit from existing infrastructures while gradually imprinting and Islamic character on
urban spaces (flood, 2001). The construction of desert palaces such a s Qasr Amra and
Khirbat al-Mafjar served both as administrative centers and as statements of power, reflecting
the dynasty’s ability to maintain control over distant regions. (Grabar n.d.)

Technologically, the Umayyads improved irrigation techniques and urban water supply,
adopting Sassanian qanat systems and Byzantine aqueducts designs. These innovations
enabled the sustainment of large urban population, demonstrating a keen understanding of
both practical and aesthetic needs in city planning. (Ettinghausen n.d.)

COMPARISON WITH EARLIER PERIODS

The Umayyads borrowed extensively from earlier architectural traditions but adapted them to
suit their ideological and functional needs.
1. SASSANID INFLUENCE: The Persian Sassanian empire (224-651 CE) developed
circular urban planning (e.g., Ctesiphon), which symbolized centralization. While the
Umayyads did not adopt the circular plan, they did integrate axial layouts that focused
on central mosques and palace, ensuring control over administration and worship.

2. BYZANTINE. INFLUENCE: The Byzantines, who had ruled much of the Near East
before the Umayyads, left behind sophisticated basilicas and mosaics. The
Umayyads modified these forms, as seen in the Great Mosque of Damascus, where
Byzantine mosaic craftsmanship was repurposed to convey Islamic themes of
paradise (Grabar, 1996).

3. ROMAN INFLUENCE: The Romans had established well-structured cities with

colonnaded streets, aqueducts, and forums. The Umayyads adapted these featured
integrating them into souqs (markets), administrative quarters, and caravanserais,
thereby ensuring economic prosperity alongside religious dominance

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 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
Significance of Umayyads Architecture
The Umayyads period played a crucial role in shaping early Islamic architecture by blending
Byzantine, Roman, and Sassanian influences into unique Islamic style. Structures like Great
Mosque of Damascus and the Dome of the Rock symbolized political authority and religious
identity, setting architectural precedents for later Islamic dynasties. Their urban planning
placed mosques at city centers, making them hubs for governance, education, and social life.

Impact On Islamic Architecture

1. Mosque design: Introduced courtyards, minarets, and intricate mosaics, later adopted
Abbasids, Fatimids, and Ottomans.
2. Urban Planning: Introduced structured layouts in cities like Baghdad and Cairo,
integrating commerce and religion.
3. Water Management: Improved qanats, aqueducts, and public baths, benefitting
later societies.
4. Palatial Architecture: Inspired Al-Andalus and Mamluk architectural traditions,
emphasizing courtyards and ornamental design.

Lasting Impact on Modern Architecture

Umayyads architectural principles continue to influence Islamic city planning, courtyard
houses, and geometric designs seen in the middle east, north Africa, and Spain (Alhambra,
Cordoba’s Great Mosque). The innovations laid the groundwork for future Islamic
architecture, proving how urban design can shape culture, identity, and governance for
centuries.

Bibliography
Creswell, K. A. C. (1989). Early Muslim Architecture. Clarendon Press. n.d.
Dodds, J. D. (1992). Al-Andalus: The Art of Islamic Spain. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
n.d.
Ettinghausen, R., Grabar, O., & Jenkins-Madina, M. (2001). Islamic Art and Architecture:
650-1250. Yale University Press. n.d.
Flood, F. B. (2001). The Great Mosque of Damascus: Studies on the Making of an Umayyad
Visual Culture. Brill. n.d.
Grabar, O. (1996). The Shape of the Holy: Early Islamic Jerusalem. Princeton University
Press. n.d.

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Hillenbrand, R. (1994). slamic Architecture: Form, Function, and Meaning. Columbia
University Press. n.d.
Kennedy, H. (2007). "The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam Changed the
World We Live In." n.d.
Lassner, J. (1970). The Topography of Baghdad in the Early Middle Ages: Text and Studies.
Wayne State University Press. n.d.