دراسة تاريخية للنواحي العمرانية في الأندلس من خلال كتاب أعمال الأعلام للمؤرخ لسان الدين بن الخطيب (138-755 ه /762-1354 م)

Abstract

The study deals with the urban aspects of al-Andalus as mentioned in the book in question, which is marked as "Aʻmāl al-aʻlām" by the writer and historian Ibn al-Khaṭīb. The book under study is considered one of the important sources concerned with the monitoring of architectural arts. In addition to valuable information in various aspects of civilization, this section of the book also contains important features of urban activities, above all the construction and reconstruction of cities, mosques and palaces. The book provides an accurate description of the most important cities and fortifications built by some of the sultans of al-Andalus, such as al-Zahra and al-Zahira, in addition to the construction of palaces, arches and environs' surrounding Cordoba, which is said to have reached twenty environs. Ibn Khaldun also referred to religious architecture, describing ways of building mosques and decorating them. The book also includes information about military architecture, where it mentions how the Andalusians excelled in building castles and fortifying the cities with high walls. This study comes within the field of historical studies that are interested in revealing the civilized aspects of Islamic states and the efforts of Muslim historians in this area.