MUSLIM CITIES

Al-Andalus was an urban society because cities were the centre of the economic, religious, political and cultural activities as in the Roman times.

That factor was very different in the medieval Christian societies which were mainly rural societies.

As a consequence, Western European cities like London or Burgos had less than 15,000 inhabitants during the 10th century while Cordoba had more than 100,000 inhabitants. Actually, it was one of the biggest cities in the world.

Apart from Cordoba, other important cities in Al-Al-Andalus were Sevilla, Mérida, Toledo or Zaragoza. These cities were former Roman cities that had a rebirth after the Visigothic times.

Parts of a Muslim cityWalls: Cities in Al-Andalus had walls to protect its citizens from invasions or thieves. Walls were closed at night and farms were out of the cities.

Inside the cities, there was another fortified area which was the alcázar. It was the centre of the political life and it was like a Christian castle and a palace at the same time.

Alcázar in Málaga Alhambra in Granada

The other important part of the city was the “medina”, which included the most important buildings of the city like the main mosque

The main mosque of Córdoba

The souk was the main market of the city and it was also in the “medina”. The “medina” was actually like the city centre

Street in the souk of Granada

However, the merchants did not keep all their goods in the market. They kept them in warehouse which were called “alhóndigas”

Rich people lived in the “medina” or old city. On the contrary, the workers lived in the “arrabales” where workshops and humble buildings were also located.There were also “arrabales” for the Christians who lived in Al-Andalus and for jews.

Rich house

“Arrabal” of Albaicín in Granada

Other important buildings of the Muslim cities were the baths. Muslim people had to be clean for religious and cultural reasons. Actually, the hygiene in Al-Andalus was higher than in Christian kingdoms.

Muslims rebuilt some of the old Roman baths and sometimes they built new ones.

There were also luxury and private baths for the rich people and there were public baths for the rest of the people

Baths in Córdoba