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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Geography > Islamic Cities
- Islamic cities after Islamic conquests of 7th and 8th 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.
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