The History of Urban Planning in Spain, Portugal and Morocco: Muslim and Christian Traditions

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Carmen Hass-Klau

The History of Urban Planning in Spain, Portugal and Morocco

Muslim and Christian Traditions

Carmen Hass-Klau

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Paperback

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English

Routledge
08 September 2025

Interdisciplinary studies; Urban communities; Human geography; Urban & municipal planning; Civil engineering, surveying & building

This book includes a historic overview of urban planning in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco from 700 AD until the 20th century.

Under Muslim rule, there was an urban sophistication which was unfamiliar in the Christian world. The conquest of Granada and the discovery of America was seen as the beginning of a new era but this book presents a different view of Spain and Portugal which does not equate with the glamorous picture usually painted. Chapters detail the untold story of Muslim refugees, who founded towns in Morocco, and how the conflicts between Morocco and Spain started not only politically but also in terms of town planning, when Spain took over the Moroccan north. The history of Islamic city planning shows more consistency compared to the Christian equivalent, which became dominant worldwide, whereas the Islamic approach is mainly forgotten. Despite this, the change from Islamic to Christian cities was extremely slow regardless of the power of the church and the wealth which came from abroad. In tracing this history, this book seeks to highlight the past in order to learn from it and move towards building a future of livable cities.

This book will be of interest to students and instructors of planning history, urban planning and human geography and to people who are generally interested in history and cities.

By: Carmen Hass-Klau
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 246mm, Width: 174mm,
Weight: 740g
ISBN: 9781032575988
ISBN 10: 1032575980
Pages: 376
Publication Date: 08 September 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Preface 1. Historical Background before and when the Muslims arrived 2. The Concept of the Islamic City and the Main Historic Cities in Morocco 3. Urbanisation under the Muslims and the Development of the Christian Kingdoms 4. The Structure of the Muslim Town and Town Planning 5. The Development of New Town in some European Countries 6. New Towns in the North of Spain and Portugal and some unsolved Questions 7. Change from Muslim to Christian City 8. The Depths of the Muslim Legacy 9. City Planning in the Renaissance and beyond 10. Renaissance in Spain and Portugal 11. Portugal and Town Planning in Lisbon: The Medieval Period and Beyond 12. The Portuguese Islands in the Atlantic: Madeira and the Azores 13. Town Planning in the Spanish New World 14. Urban Planning by the Portuguese in Africa: Some Examples 15. The Enlightenment in Spain and Portugal 16. Spain in the 19th Century 17. New Towns in Morocco in the 15th – 19th Centuries 18. Morocco: Urban Planning in the Colonial Period: Blessing or Curse?

Carmen Hass-Klau was born in Germany. She studied Urban and Regional Planning in Berlin, followed by two postgraduate degrees in Britain. She had her own consultancy in England, Environmental and Transport Planning, until she moved to Spain. She is Professor Emeritus of European Public Transport at Wuppertal University, Germany. She has published a large number of articles and 13 books, including The Pedestrian and the City (Routledge 2015). She is currently working on a new book.