Archnet is an Open Access resource, provided to the public to facilitate cultural understanding and excellence in both scholarship and practice. Unless otherwise noted. Archnet material is available for instructional, nonprofit use, and personal use on the terms of a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International</a> (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.Content from Archnet.org may not be published, displayed, or appropriated for commercial use without the expressed written permission of the copyright holder. Please contact Archnet to request permission to use Archnet.org website and contents beyond the scope outlined above. High-resolution images may be available by contacting us using <a href="mailto:archnet@mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet@mit.edu</a>.

Terms of use

Welcome to ARCHNET NEXT, the latest iteration of Archnet, an Open Access, intellectual resource focused on architecture, urbanism, environmental and landscape design, conservation issues, visual and material cultures, and other topics related to the built environment. With a focus on societies in which Muslims are or have been a significant cultural presence, Archnet’s mission is to provide ready access to quality, unique texts and media to facilitate teaching, scholarship, and professional work of high quality.&nbsp;&nbsp; Since it was originally launched in 2002 Archnet’s digital library has grown considerably.&nbsp;Moreover, Archnet has developed a well established a reputation as a reliable authority and useful tool for teaching and learning about the the built environment of Muslim societies, past, and present. Archnet is a partnership between the <a href="https://archnet.org/collections/1342" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT </a> (AKDC@MIT) and the <a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/1903" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Trust for Culture</a> (AKTC), with support from the <a href="https://archnet.org/collections/50" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture</a> at Harvard and MIT.&nbsp;ARCHNET NEXT was developed by <a href="https://www.performantsoftware.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Performant Software Solutions</a>. For help using Archnet, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/pages/help" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.

About

Archnet is a community powered resource that provides ready access to visual and textual material to facilitate teaching, scholarship, and professional work of high quality.&nbsp;This unparalleled resource continues to grow with both the addition of historic archives and documentation on contemporary trends shaping the built environment today.&nbsp;To better serve you, our user, in the study of art and architecture of Muslim societies, we continue to build our vast collection of sites, publications, images, and videos. We invite your involvement, particularly in the areas below:<ul><li>To ensure a high level of scholarly content and accuracy in the information provided, we appreciate your expert feedback and, more importantly, your contributions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Please send comments, corrections, commendations, and other feedback to <a href="mailto:archnet@mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet@mit.edu</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>If you find sites on Archnet to which you can contribute in compelling and meaningful ways, your generosity is most welcome. If you would be interested in contributing research, publications or other media to Archnet, please contact us using <a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet-submission@mit.edu</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>We welcome the donation of select archives based on our current editorial policies and priorities.&nbsp;If you have a collection you would like to bring to the attention of Archnet's editors, please send an email to: <a href="http://mailto: archnet-submission@mit.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet-submission@mit.edu</a>.</li><li>Occasionally, Archnet editors issue calls for contributions on specific themes or of particular types of material. Follow those on the <a href="https://libraries.mit.edu/akdc/category/contributors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website of AKDC@MIT </a>or <a href="https://mailchi.mp/17fc345bbd94/archnetakdc-updates" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to our mailing list</a>.</li></ul>The breadth, depth and quality of Archnet is only possible through the generosity of numerous institutions and individuals listed on the respective pages throughout the site.&nbsp;We thank you for your generosity!

Contribute

<h2>ARCHNET FAQ</h2>1. Will ARCHNET work on my device?Archnet works well on the most recent version of any major browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), either on a mobile device or computer. It may work on older or less common browsers as well. If Archnet fails to work properly on your machine, please let us know about your experience by clicking the blue feedback button at bottom right!2. Will my URLs still work?Yes, as of October 12, 2021, all URLs from the old Archnet have been redirected to ARCHNET NEXT.&nbsp;&nbsp;3. How do I download a/n:&nbsp;<ul><li>image - Select the image you want to download from search results, a site or an authority. The image will open in your browser.&nbsp;Right click to download.&nbsp;For larger, high-resolution copies, see contact us using archnet@mit.edu.&nbsp;</li><li>publication - Open the page for the publication in your browser and click the download button. Reprinting Archnet publications is permissible only for personal use.&nbsp;Please contact us for any other requests.&nbsp;</li><li>site descriptions and metadata - Site descriptions and metadata can be used for any nonprofit or educational organization with appropriate attribution to the authors and Archnet.&nbsp;</li><li>video - Currently video downloads are not possible. If you'd like to use an Archnet video, please contact <a href="mailto:archnet@mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet@mit.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>See our <a href="https://www.archnet.org/pages/terms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Terms of Use</a> for information on how you can use Archnnet material.4. Can I contribute material to Archnet?&nbsp;Yes!&nbsp;See our <a href="https://www.archnet.org/pages/contribute" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Contribute</a> page for more information.&nbsp;Calls for specific contributions are also also shared in our social media and on the <a href="https://libraries.mit.edu/akdc/category/contributors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">web site of the Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;5. What happened to the Archnet Timeline?&nbsp;Timeline has migrated into the ARCHNET NEXT Collections page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archnet.org/collections/collection_type/3/1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">as a category</a>. These collections provide short introductions for each period, often offering lists of additional resources at the end of the entry. Only the timeline graphic listing the periods along a chronological axis has not migrated.6. My question isn't here.&nbsp;How can I get help?&nbsp;If your issue is with using Archnet, use the blue Feedback button to alert us to your issue. This will allow you to include a screenshot or recording. Please, also, feel free to contact us at <a href="mailto:archnet@mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet@mit.edu</a>We are currently developing the help section of ARCHNET NEXT. In the meantime, please use the blue Feedback button in ARCHNET NEXT to send us feedback or other questions. Contact us at <a href="mailto:archnet@mit.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">archnet@mit.edu</a>.&nbsp;

Need help?

 Oujda

city walls

gate

Morocco

gates

fortifications

crenelations

Paul Servant

https://admin.archnet.org/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBNGF1QVE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--b1691c9f67c66bda1ee0b71438b2e6b90be17a75/IAA115557.jpg

glass plate negative

Street view to minaret 5-79

Bab Sidi Abd el Ouahab

https://admin.archnet.org/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBL1hDQVE9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--e3df20dcc0f6c7dab7a3f6212d8a9c1484dfae03/IAA124526.jpg

City Gate, Bab Sidi Abd el Ouahab

Bab Sidi al-Wahab

Alternate transliteration

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Marinids (Beni Marin, Merinids, or Merinides) were Zenata Berbers who fled west from the Hillalian
invasion. They first appear in 1196/592 AH as supporters of the&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/timelines/48/period/Almohad/year/1130">Almohads</a>,
but in 1216/612 AH they began to take advantage of the weakening of the dynasty
to establish control over what is now northern Morocco. Under the leadership of
Emir Abu Yahya (1244-1258/641-655 AH) the Marinids consolidated their military
strength and moral authority, the dynasty took control of the imperial cities
of&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3828">Meknes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3657">Fes</a>, and Salé, and his successor, Abu Yaqub Yusuf (1258-1286/655-664 AH), put
an end to the Almohad dynasty by taking the capital city of&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/3820">Marrakech</a>&nbsp;in
September 1269/Muharram/668. After defeating the Almohads, they sought to
re-establish their empire. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Failed
invasions of North Africa between 1260/658 and 1267/665 AH gave the Marinids a
foothold in Spain, and by the end 14th century they had occupied Rota, Tarifa
and Gibraltar. In 1337/738 AH they conquered the the Abdalwadid kingdom
of&nbsp;<a href="http://archnet.org/authorities/4007">Tlemcen</a>&nbsp;and in 1347/748 AH by the defeat of the Hafsid empire in Ifriqiya,
which gave them control of the Maghreb as far east as Tripoli. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Marinids founded Fes Jdid (the new Fes) as an administrative and military
centre, and it was during their reign that Fes reached its apogee, ranking
among the largest cities in the world at the time. It became an important
intellectual center, and many of its more important monuments date to this
period. &nbsp;Despite internal infighting, Abu Said Uthman II (1310–1331/
710-731 AH) initiated huge construction projects across Morocco, most notably
madrassas, built to create a dependent bureaucratic class that would undermine
the power of the Sufi marabouts.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In
1340/740 AH they were defeated by a Portuguese-Castilian coalition in the
Battle of Río Salado and forced to withdraw from Andalusia, retaining control
only of Algeciras. In that same year a revolt of Arab tribes in southern
Tunisia, made them lose some of their eastern territories.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1348/749
AH Abu al-Hasan was deposed by his son Abu Inan Faris, who tried to reconquer
Algeria and Tunisia. He was strangled, in turn, by his vizir in 1358. After
1358 true power fell in the hands of the viziers and this period was marked by
a rapid succession of Sultans. Supported and manipulated by foreign
powers the powerful Viziers furthered the fragmentation of the state and
precipitated the Marinids’ eclipse. The Marinids were increasingly perceived as
decadent and their taxes excessive. This allowed competing powers to
gradually whittle away at territory over the next 100 years. Marrakesh was lost
to the Hafsids as early as 1359/760, and territories to the south claimed
autonomy. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1401/803
AH Spanish forces invaded Tetouan in the north, and in 1415, the Portuguese
took Ceuta. The inability of the Marinid state to ward off the foreign
invaders weakened the prestige of the dynasty beyond repair. The last
Marinid ruler, Sultan Abd al-Haqq (1420-1465/823-869 AH) was assassinated in
1465/869 AH. Michael A. Toler

Bab Sidi Abd el OuahabOujda, Morocco

Bab Sidi Abd el Ouahab
Oujda, Morocco