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A primary focus of Archnet is the development of the urban environment in Muslim societies. Archnet’s new place authorities are records for cities, towns, and other settled areas that link the sites located in that area.&nbsp;Depending on when the record was created or last updated, it may include variant and alternate place names, including ones no longer in use, in languages other than English, including those in non-Western alphabets, and variant spellings. Eventually, this will be the case with all city records. The most developed records in this collection also provide a brief description of the city and its significance, as well as a history of its development. From these records, you can navigate to sites in the city, publications, maps, and video relating to the city or specific neighborhoods thereof, aerial, general, and distant views, urban planning graphics relating to infrastructure, topography, and characteristics of the residents, and even street views or portraits known to be of the city or is residents, but for which we do not have an exact location. We hope you find these records useful. Users interested in the topic of urban history may wish to consult the collection of the <a href="http://archnet.org/collections/historic_cities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme</a>, or to explore the results of keywords such as <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJjaXRpZXMiXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzEwMH0.JJHPyQckiM0KURTJqZWXF5-GSpS6sUE6Xa8bLIzJVU8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cities,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJjaXR5IGFuZCByZWdpb25hbCBkZXZlbG9wbWVudCJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzMTM2fQ.Q1z03tZmTEFvihTpojsCebGu7wjYrcOgorreQfRjKDQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">city and regional development</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiBkZXNpZ24iXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzIyMn0.ozXSEhZe74cE3sJ6z8wSO8ZY9j04ttRK_oSoDzpG558" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban design</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJjaXRpZXMiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiBkZXZlbG9wbWVudCJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzMjczfQ.aoqIJCVEIUz7aKd63IDX6VCNd6yXPDRPb-uHZ22VLXc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban development</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbmlzbSIsInJlZmluZW1lbnRMaXN0Ijp7ImtleXdvcmRzIjoiIn0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzMzM30.cA5r5rUd6eCx2V_HLoimgAvuLdJTS6rncVZ4hfKE3EI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urbanism</a>, <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiIiLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiBwbGFubmluZyJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzNDE0fQ.l7zBf7mVWNWIKytF3Vs3WrLR-rcoi4QfWov7DINmd4I" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban planning</a>, or <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzQ4M30.Bg6VrH3hbuHHnVbr5nIxFyoInER16qtlKvgHQFvX9Yo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban regeneration</a>. In addition, there are site records for <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6IiIsImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJjb21tdW5pdHkgZGV2ZWxvcG1lbnQiXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzYzOH0.LuQAv0nhyzzBVAcz-diTJL0tqxpiLcAxWOJV665S_UE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">community development,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6IiIsImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJ1cmJhbiB1cGdyYWRpbmciXX0sImlhdCI6MTc4NTUxMzg1OX0.SyW_uYoCDTpPCIV8GDWnFvTysAQ3GJg7hk3ZckfxofY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">urban upgrading,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJ1cmJhbiByZWdlbmVyYXRpb24iLCJyZWZpbmVtZW50TGlzdCI6eyJrZXl3b3JkcyI6IiIsImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJhcmVhIGNvbnNlcnZhdGlvbiJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTEzOTE3fQ.lA8j1vDRE1HIaI5DblbO5MTtV65EtUC9iAgcexANEXQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">area conservation,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJtYXN0ZXIgcGxhbiIsInJlZmluZW1lbnRMaXN0Ijp7ImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJuZXcgdG93biBwbGFubmluZyJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTE0MDM3fQ.0hUrzEW8Ub3EagAbJQDTFDKCWDutw3xFCDt8uF9qe0o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">infrastructure upgrading,</a> <a href="https://www.archnet.org/search?search_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJyYW5nZSI6eyJ5ZWFyIjp7fSwidGltZV9wZXJpb2QiOnt9fSwicGFnZSI6MSwicXVlcnkiOiJtYXN0ZXIgcGxhbiIsInJlZmluZW1lbnRMaXN0Ijp7ImJ1aWxkaW5nX3VzYWdlcyI6WyJuZXcgdG93biBwbGFubmluZyJdfSwiaWF0IjoxNzg1NTE0MDM3fQ.0hUrzEW8Ub3EagAbJQDTFDKCWDutw3xFCDt8uF9qe0o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new town planning</a> and other types of projects. This collection will continue to develop over time, so check back regularly.&nbsp;We also welcome contributions, including corrections and additions. Please use the 'Feedback' button at the lower right or <a href="https://www.archnet.org/pages/contribute" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contact us.</a>

Cities and Towns

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collage (digital photographs)

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IAA705845

The palace of the Qarakhanids, or the Regent's palace, as it is popularly known, is a rare specimen of early Islamic palaces in Central Asia that escaped Genghis Khan's ravages (1220). Distinct from the Khwarazm region's local tradition of fortified manor houses (kushks), this palace is stylistically closer to the open architectural typology of Iranian palaces at Ctesipon, Ukhaidir and Samarra. The lavish wall decorations of this palace have been seminal influences on later Islamic palaces as far away as the Indian subcontinent. The palace stands north of the Zurmala tower, in the eastern portion of the Shakhristan or city center of the ancient settlement of Termez or Tirmidh along the Amu Darya River. The palace was built in the eleventh century in the reign of the Great Qaghans of the western Qarakhanid Empire, though restorations were undertaken in the reign of Ghaznavid ruler Bahram Shah (1117 - 57) some time before 1129-30. The partly unexcavated, rectangular palace was originally part of a larger walled district that housed palatial, residential and commercial quarters. The spatial sequence consists of an imposing entrance portal leading to chambers arranged around a central courtyard, with an audience hall at the end of the axis. Interestingly, this arrangement of rooms (baits) grouped around a courtyard, central square pool, iwan and axial emphasis on the throne room are found in ancient Sasanian palaces, like that at Damghan and Firuzabad. The audience hall was defined within the central courtyard by a five-columned portico, with a grand central arch. Within the audience hall, piers set close to the perimeter walls create a narrow ambulatory corridor that ran around a broad central nave. The ruler's throne presumably stood at the end of this central vaulted space. However, it is the carved stucco (ganch), wall paintings and decorative motifs (girih) that distinguish the palace of the Qarakhanids. The design range and physical expression of the décor is imposing; walls, columns, vaults, niches and dadoes were rendered with pre-Islamic, zoomorphic motifs. Stars, rosettes and symbolic motifs were crafted with glazed tile and stained glass to form abstract animals and birds. Brightly colored, late Ghaznavid medallions with relief-cut glasswork discovered at the palace are unique specimens of early Islamic glassware. The audience chamber's walls were decorated with three parallel bands of ornamental panels, the lower two of which consisted primarily of medallions and girikhs respectively. Mud brick constituted structural members while floors were made of baked brick. Famed historian Boris Petrovich Denike led Russian archaeological teams to the site over 1926-28, which led to the first published work on the palace's exceptional stucco decorations. Much like the early Seljuk Palace at Merv, the palace of the Qarakhanids deserves immediate preservation efforts. Sources: Hillenbrand, Robert. Islamic Architecture, 411-12, 580. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1999. Knobloch, Edgar. Monuments of Central Asia, 148. London: I.B. Tauris Publishers, 2001.

Palace of the Qarakhanids

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