The castles of Mallorca : a diachronic perspective of the dynamics of territorial control on an Islamic island
This thesis pioneers a study in the dynamics of territorial control of the island of Mallorca from ca. 902-1300 AD, with the aim of providing the first holistic and systematic study of the known Islamic fortresses of this island, and determining the reasons which account for the lack of the so-called hisn/qarya complex there. The scientific focus of this project explores the effects that island contexts may have on the identity-forming processes of their population and how these in turn affect the socio-political makeup of these âboundedâ polities. More specifically, in the case of Mallorca the core of this study is devoted to the relation between the hinterland fortifications of the Islamic period and the islandâs capital city MadÄ"na MayĆ"rqa, concluding that due to the relative isolation of Mallorcaâs segmentary communities from their mainland analogues they evolved a distinctive meta-identity which gradually supplanted their traditional tribal allegiances and redefined their relation with the state and political authority in general. Other areas of interest explored here are the use of rammed earth and masonry in Andalusi Architecture, and the mechanisms of integration of the Islamic territorial
Goffriller, Martin Sebastian
fortification ; Mallorca ; Islamic archaeology ; hisn/qarya complex ; viewshed analysis ; landscape archaeology ; al-Andalus
The castles of Mallorca : a diachronic perspective of the dynamics of territorial control on an Islamic island. This thesis pioneers a study in the dynamics of territorial control of the island of Mallorca from ca. 902-1300 AD, with the aim of providing the first holistic and systematic study of the known Islamic fortresses of this island, and determining the reasons which account for the lack of the so-called hisn/qarya complex there. The scientific focus of this project explores the effects that island contexts may have on the identity-forming processes of their population and how these in turn affect the socio-political makeup of these âboundedâ polities. More specifically, in the case of Mallorca the core of this study is devoted to the relation between the hinterland fortifications of the Islamic period and the islandâs capital city MadÄ"na MayĆ"rqa, concluding that due to the relative isolation of Mallorcaâs segmentary communities from their mainland analogues they evolved a distinctive meta-identity which gradually supplanted their traditional tribal allegiances and redefined their relation with the state and political authority in general. Other areas of interest explored here are the use of rammed earth and masonry in Andalusi Architecture, and the mechanisms of integration of the Islamic territorial
castle diachronic_perspective dynamic territorial control islamic island pioneer study dynamic territorial control island aim_provide first holistic systematic_study know islamic fortress island determine reason account lack so_called complex there scientific focus project explore effect island context may identity forming process population turn affect socio_political makeup bound polity specifically case core_study devote relation hinterland fortification islamic_period island capital_city conclude due relative isolation community mainland analogue evolve distinctive meta identity gradually supplant traditional tribal allegiance redefine relation state political_authority general area_interest explore use earth masonry architecture mechanisms integration islamic territorial