The Bazaar in the Islamic City

The bazaar, a cornerstone of Islamic cities, serves as more than just a commercial hub; it is a dynamic forum for cultural exchange and social interaction that reflects historical evolution, political conditions, and urban morphology. This interdisciplinary study examines the unique histories, traditions, and structures of bazaars across North Africa and the Middle East, including those in Cairo, Damascus, Aleppo, Nablus, Bursa, Istanbul, Sana'a, Kabul, Tehran, and Yazd. Despite shared contextual and functional characteristics, each bazaar exhibits distinct cultural practices and a continuity from past to present, highlighting its enduring role as a space for goods exchange and societal interaction—a ritual as old as human history. The research approach combines historical, architectural, sociological, and anthropological perspectives to explore these dynamics comprehensively.

Gharipour, M. (Ed.). (2012). The Bazaar in the Islamic City. https://doi.org/10.5743/cairo/9789774165290.001.0001