The Samarran Urban Layout: Inequality in the Abbasid period

Abstract

Samarra, built in 836 AD, stands as one of the most relevant sites in Islamic archaeology. During 56 years, this city was the capital of the Abbasid caliphate, featuring multiple palaces, houses and an extensive urban plan.

This thesis examines the urban fabric of Abbasid Samarra through an integrated study of dwellings, urban palaces, service infrastructure, and their spatial organisation, with a particular focus on inequality. There are two main research themes which guided this study: an architectural analysis of Samarran residences and palaces, and the use of data-driven approaches, such as Gini coefficients and QGIS, to quantify inequality across spatial subdivisions and building types.

The findings challenge the traditional view that Abbasid cities were controlled rigidly by the state. Instead, the disparity in both architecture and access to resources suggests a less authoritarian model. Patterns in layout, house size, service infrastructure distribution, and water management systems reflect the interplay between centralised caliphal planning and localised adaptations. These differences were not only seen between different periods or areas, but also within them, revealing the complexity of Abbasid society.