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History & Theories of Urban planning Book

Middle Ages

Middle Ages:
• This civilization appeared in Europe in the period from the fifth to the fifteenth
century AD (10 centuries) between the collapse of the Roman civilization in 47
AD (the takeover of Rome by the Berber tribes from northern Europe) and the
beginning of the Renaissance.
• It was divided chronologically, but three eras (the early Middle Ages - the
highest - the high - the late). The first phase begins in the late fifth century and
extends to the middle of the tenth century, and is characterized by sharp conflict
and deep conflict between the principles of Greco-Roman art and the
foundations of Vandali (barbarism), and then settling on hybrid solutions that
married them. As for the second stage, it witnessed the spread and consolidation
of a general style known as Rumi (Romanesque), while the third stage includes
Gothic, and extends from the second half of the twelfth century to the beginning
of the fifteenth century, which revealed new qualitative births in Western
European culture.
• This era was known for chaos, diseases, conflicts and injustice from feudal
lords, princes and the church (the focus of protection and education was the
church, monasteries, and palaces of the nobles).
• Society was divided into classes (clergy and monks - the king, princes and
nobles - peasants and the poor).

Medieval Cities

a) Hermenstade City

• Examples of Cathedral - Citadel Towns.
• It is located in Germany
• Castle or fortress (not in the city center but near the gates)
• The church is in the center
• The roads are irregular
• There is a moat around the city
• There are commercial markets on outskirts of the city near the commercial roads
• There is a wall surrounding the city (with multiple gates)

b) Paris City

• Examples of cities are of Roman origin.
• At first it was called Lutetia.
• A Roman city
• Its layout was "grid"
• There was a "form" at the convergence of two streets
• The Seine River separated the city into two parts, and there was an island in the

middle
• There were 3 walls to define the city
• It had many cathedrals, and one of the most famous churches was "Notre Dame

de Paris"

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Dr. Sherein El-Shahat