Abbasid Architecture
Abbasid architecture’s surviving remnants plans based on medieval texts. The city was
are mostly located in Iraq. The influence of Sas- about 1.7 miles and was protected by strong
sanian, Central Asian and Sejluk traditions can
walls made of mud-brick. It was also surround-
be noticed in their architecture. However, de-
ed by a moat that was supplied water from the
spite this influence, Abbasid architecture has its
Tigris River. The city had four gates that were
unique features such as use of vast spaces, spiral designed to shield the city in case of an assault.
minarets and development of different types of
The city was also designed to keep common peo-
stucco (Petersen, 2002).
ple and the Caliph separate. However, it soon
Round city of Baghdad:
Caliph Al- Mansur moved the capital to
Baghdad. The city has been built upon in modern times and nothing remains of it. However,
researchers have been able to reconstruct
lost its purpose as people settled heavily around
it, a market was established there and an army
encampment was also built outside the walls
(Blair, 2011).