Transformations in Medieval Fez: Almoravid Hydraulic System and Changes in the Almohad Walls
Identificadores
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10481/88845Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemEditorial
Taylor & Francis Online
Fecha
2017Referencia bibliográfica
The journal of the North African Studies
Resumen
During the Almoravid and Almohad periods, Fez acquired a great importance
which was materialised in a great number of constructions and
transformations in the town. The aim of this paper is to discuss the
significance of these medieval works and their importance in the
development of Fez between the 11th and 13th centuries. In this way, we
analyze two samples of these works: the Almoravid hydraulic system built by
Yūsuf Ibn Tāšufīn, including the ‘water dispenser’ of Būjlūd, and the Almohad
transformations in the military constructions of Fez, especially the defensive
system of Bāb Sāgma. Beyond a brief historical introduction of the city during
the Almoravid and Almohad periods, a section about written and
archaeological sources and the detailed description of both constructions, we
have included a discussion section with the interpretation of the main reasons
why the Almoravids and Almohads developed this kind of works in the town.
This fact was related to religious and political reasons, deeply connected to
the ideas of control, power and exaltation of governors of both dynasties.
Moreover, we include the analysis of the type of decoration known as ‘false
bonding’ ( falso despiece) that appears in the complex of Bāb Sāgma. For the
presence of this ornamentation, typically used during the Almohad period, as
well as for the references of the written sources, we propose a revision of the
traditional Merinid chronology suggested for this military construction.