The Towns of Palestine Under Muslim Rule, AD 600-1600

This book is an investigation of the towns of Palestine under Muslim rule from AD 600 to AD 1600. The primary form of evidence is archaeological reports though historical sources are also used. Three questions are addressed: 1) Did the towns of Palestine decline under Muslim rule? 2) Did the towns become Islamic? 3) Does archaeology provide useful answers? To answer these questions the archaeology of twenty-six towns is investigated. The towns selected are in regional groups (the Negev, Eastern Galilee and the Mediterranean coast) to illustrate different aspects of urban development from the Muslim conquest to the first century of Ottoman rule. The study also includes a detailed investigation of Ramla which was founded by the Umayyads within the first century of Muslim rule.