NIcolle cover

De Re Militari | Book Reviews

David Nicolle

Saracen Strongholds 1100-1500:
The Central and Eastern Islamic Lands

Fortress 87 (Osprey Publishing, 2009), 64 pp. ISBN 978-1846033759, $18.95.

Muslim military architecture had numerous roots.  The pre-Islamic Arabs lived not only in the Arabian Peninsula, but also inside the Greco-Roman and Iranian empires.  There were also large frontier zones were governed, either partially or wholly, by Arab vassal dynasties.  The superpowers of the day (Rome-Byzantium and Sassanian Iran) dominated large parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including parts of modern-day Yemen in the far south.  Given the Arabs long involvement with other cultures, it is not surprising to find sophisticated Mediterranean and Iranian styles of architecture within Arabia.  It also seems conceivable that the Arabs took knowledge of fortification back to their own tribes.

By the time of the Crusades, the Muslim world had already developed its own sophisticated styles of fortification that were distinctive and effective.  The region’s unique military architecture continued to evolve in response to the Crusader and Mongol threats, and drew upon the traditions of their foes and neighbors.  The resulting indigenous concepts of military architecture had an influence upon fortifications in Europe, including Italy and the Iberian Peninsula.  Muslim fortifications primarily focus upon the defense of cities and frontiers rather than providing security for the aristocracy.

As the boundaries of the Muslim Empire spread (during the second half of the first millennia), there was a need to build defensive structures to defend trade routes, frontier outposts as well as cities.  Inevitably, these structures modified and incorporated styles from pre-existing Byzantine, Indian and Chinese military structures.  The resulting hybrid was new and distinctive from former structures, and formed an effective network of fortifications.  The majority of these structures were built of mud brick, though many also had stone added into the construction.  As the boundaries of the empire expanded further, many of the forts were no longer needed and were abandoned, only to fall into disrepair.  Unlike previous fortresses used by other civilizations, these fortifications were divided into two basic types.  One was a small stronghold that often surrounded a mosque.  Others were gigantic and encompassed entire cities, such as the Round City of Baghdad.

This book covers fortifications in the Muslim lands and covers a vast geographical area from North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan and Northern India.  The scope of fortifications examined includes citadels, fortified cities and palaces.  It looks at their architectural development, peacetime existence and experience of warfare (both directly in sieges and indirectly as they changed hands after distant battles).

This book covers the methods of construction as well as the major parts of the above fortresses. Every site that had a fortress built upon it is covered (or at least mentioned).  In some cases, these fortifications have been restored to varying degrees while others are near total ruin.  Those that are still extant are, of course, given greater coverage.  For these fortifications, descriptive text as well as photos of as they are or have been in the last century or so are used to familiarize the reader with the subject matter.  Superlative illustrations of not only the physical layout but also that of the action that took place at these locales, along with plan maps of the layout help readers visualize what some of these magnificent fortifications may have been like when there were functioning as fortifications.  While many of these extant sites are now in areas that are less than easily accessible (such as Iraq and Afghanistan), others (such as those in Iran, Egypt and in the former Soviet union) are still relatively readily accessible to tourists and enthusiasts.

The book’s production quality is excellent.  Binding, editing and layout are all well done.  Like others in the fortress series of books that Osprey has published, this one is designed with the general audience in mind – it is short and well researched.  Like others in this series, maps, a large number of plans, and superb color illustrations, support the text.  It includes photographs of modern ruins, black and white floor plans and artists renditions of the original fortifications and cities.

For a book that covers four centuries, several dynasties (the Seljuk Turks, Ayyubids, Mamluks, Mongols and Assassins) and a vast geographical area (modern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt, and India), it is unexpected that it could be so short.  Some readers may even find it lacking in detail.  My only real complaint is that the references are not always listed in the bibliography, or that the reference is not clear (as there is more than one reference by the same author).  There by making it more difficult for those wishing to refer to the source materials used.  Given the scale of the topic, this work is best seen as an overview – but it is an effective one.  Overall, it is a fine book and one that should be on the shelves of anyone interested in this particular time and place in history.

Muhammed Hassanali

Independent scholar <[email protected]>

Page Added: February 2010