The longevity of Persian urban form: Maibud from late antiquity to the fifteenth century

Abstract

Urban morphology has developed mainly in Europe, where a wealth of historical maps, plans and other records exist. Such documents are comparatively rare in most Iranian cities. But the history of these cities over thousands of years is embodied in their urban development. This paper explores the morphological development of the medium-sized Persian city of Maibud, giving particular attention to its street pattern. The types of street patterns are the twisting alley, the orthogonal pattern and the geometric system. Each is linked to a phase of history, and together they connect late antiquity to the early modern city. The overlapping of the first two of these types of patterns is where the Jami) mosque was erected and the early Islamic hub developed. This suggests a zone of transition between the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods. These street patterns are fundamental to the process of early Islamic development of the region.