Al-Andalus had highly urbanized societies centered around important cities like Cordoba, which was one of the largest cities in the world during the 10th century with over 100,000 inhabitants. Muslim cities were laid out with fortified walls and an alcázar or citadel at the center for political and military purposes. The medina contained the main mosque and souk market at the city center, while artisans lived in outer arrabales neighborhoods. Cities featured baths that were an important part of Islamic culture and hygiene practices.

1. MUSLIM CITIES

2. 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.

3. Parts of a Muslim city
Walls: 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

4. 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”

5. 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

6. 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