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Cities and Landscapes: The BFF’s of Mediterranean Civilizations

When you think of cities like Cairo, Granada, and Constantinople, bustling markets, grand mosques, and ancient palaces likely come to mind. But beyond their iconic architecture lies a lesser-known, vital force—green spaces.
The fusion of city and landscape was significant in cities like Constantinople (today known as Istanbul)

When you think of cities like Cairo, Granada, and Istanbul, one likely imagines bustling markets, grand mosques, and ancient palaces well before you think of their green space. Yet, the bond between these cities and their surrounding landscapes is as enduring as the‘Friends’ gang’s loyalty to Central Perk, absolutely shaping the cities into how we know them today.

Take Cairo, for example. It wasn’t just founded out of the blue—it was built around a bustan, which is basically what we’d call a park today. Dr. Nasser Rabbat sheds light on this in his study, The History of Green Spaces in Cairo. The city’s creators understood the importance of green spaces even in the arid climate of Egypt. Although medieval Cairo’s core lacked large green spaces due to irrigation challenges, they smartly created a green belt on the city’s western outskirts, irrigated by historic Roman aqueducts from the Nile. This green belt was crucial for the city’s sustainability and beauty, showing early urban planners’ ingenuity.

Meanwhile, in cities like Granada and Constantinople, the fusion of city and landscape was just as significant. Dr. D. Fairchild Ruggles in Islamic Gardens and Landscapes explains how Islamic Mediterranean civilizations were masters of science, mathematics, and land surveying. They repaired old Roman aqueducts and designed advanced hydraulic systems that watered palace gardens, farms, and public fountains. These systems not only beautified the cities but also supported agriculture and public health, fueling economic and political growth.

Granada’s Alhambra, for instance, is a stunning example of this landscape integration. Its gardens, courtyards, and intricate water features reflect a deep understanding of both aesthetic pleasure and practical irrigation. The same can be said for Constantinople (today known as Istanbul), where aqueducts and cisterns, inherited from Roman engineering, were critical in maintaining the city’s water supply and supporting its lush public and private gardens.

The Alhambra and Generalife Gardens, Granada (Spain)

Advanced hydraulic systems at The Alhambra connected water from the surrounding river to interior courtyards

These cities weren’t just concrete jungles—they were green, thriving ecosystems. The relationship between city and landscape was symbiotic, each supporting the other in a dance of sustainability and beauty. The ancient urban planners of these Mediterranean cities were way ahead of their time, creating urban spaces that were not only functional but also deeply connected to the natural world around them.

This isn’t just ancient history either; it’s alive in pop culture. The ancient Mediterranean city has long inspired the imagination of artists and writers. Washington Irving’s “Tales from The Alhambra” was pivotal in introducing the ethereal beauty of Granada to the English-speaking world, while Orhan Pamuk’s “Istanbul: Memories and the City” offers a profound exploration of Istanbul’s layered history and cultural depth. Their evocative portrayals of city within landscape have deeply influenced literary and artistic traditions. Salvador Dalí, with his surrealist lens, also drew upon the Alhambra’s enigmatic allure in his artwork, blending dreamlike visions with historical grandeur. In contemporary pop culture, the historic landscape continues to captivate, as seen in the Andalusian gardens of Seville’s Real Alcázar in the hit TV series Game of Thrones, reflecting their ongoing impact on storytelling and creative expression.

This profound connection between the city and its landscape also mirrors an environmental ethic that emphasizes harmony with the universe. This ethos is reflected in how these cities were designed to work with nature, not against it, creating spaces that were both functional and beautiful.

Game of Thrones had an episode filmed in the gardens of the Real Alcazar of Seville, Spain

So, the next time you stroll through a new park in a modern city park remember that this idea isn't new at all. It's the continuation of a legacy that goes back centuries in the rich histories of the Mediterranean. The symbiotic relationship between these cities and their landscapes is a timeless testament to the brilliance of early urban design and a deep-seated environmental ethic that remains ever more relevant today.
Sources
  1. Rabbat, Nasser. The History of Green Spaces in Cairo.
  2. “The Bustan: Origins of the Urban Park.” Historical Cairo Journal.
  3. Ruggles, D. Fairchild. Islamic Gardens and Landscapes.
  4. “Water and Urbanization in Ancient Constantinople.” Mediterranean Urban Studies.
  5. “Environmental Ethics in Islam.” Islamic Environmentalism Journal.

Part I of ‘Urban History in Less than 60 seconds: The Story of How Aqueducts Helped Islam Take over Egypt’ by @earthtoneslab