Overview

Martin Goffriller's research presents 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 book explores the effects that island contexts may have had on the identity-forming processes of their population and how these in turn affect the socio-political makeup of these 'bounded' 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 island's capital city Madina Mayurqa, concluding that due to the relative isolation of Mallorca's 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. Also detailed are the mechanisms of territorial and administrative integration of Islamic Mayurqa into the feudal structures of the Kingdom of Aragon in the aftermath of the Catalan conquest of 1229.

Full Product Details

Author:   Martin S. Goffriller
Publisher:   BAR Publishing
Imprint:   BAR Publishing
Weight:   0.814kg
ISBN:  

9781407357607

ISBN 10:   1407357603
Pages:   204
Publication Date:   30 April 2021
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock  
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

List of Figures List of Plates List of Abbreviations Summary 1. Introduction to the Study of Islamic Iberia, Its Fortification & Settlement 1.1 Researching Islamic Iberia: problems and challenges 1.1.1 The Medieval Spains of Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz and Américo Castro 1.1.2 Pierre Guichard on Islamic tribalism and Spanish identity 1.1.3 Critiques of structural-functionalist anthropology: Chelhod, Manzano and Epalza 1.2 Other debates on the socio-political realities of Medieval Iberia: conversion and settlement 1.2.1 On conversion to Islam: Bulliet and Glick 1.2.2 On Islamic settlement and Christian re-settlement: Kennedy and Fletcher 1.2.3 The emergence of landscape archaeology in the study of medieval Spain 1.3 Fortress and village: the hisn/qarya complex and its existence in Mallorca 2. Aims and Methodologies 2.1 Aims of the study 2.2 Methodology 2.2.1 The historical sources 2.2.2 The use of viewshed analysis 3. Fortification and Urbanism in Al-Andalus 3.1 The physical fortress: the morphology of the hisn 3.2 The conceptual fortress: function and location of the Islamic fortress 3.3 Other types of fortification in al-Andalus 3.3.1 The Ribat / Ribat 3.3.2 Alquería towers / guelâa 3.3.3 Fortified Granaries / agadir 3.4 Urban Islam: Madina Mayurqa and its role within Mallorca's territory 3.4.1 The 'Islamic' city: research history and state of the question 4. Mayurqa: Island and History 4.1 Geography and climate of Mallorca 4.2 A political history of Mallorca 4.2.1 The Classical period and Late Antiquity 4.2.2 The Islamic Period 5. Madina Mayurqa and the Fortresses of Alaró, Castell Del Rei and Santueri 5.1 Madina Mayurqa, Palma de Mallorca 5.1.1 Almudaina of Palma 5.1.2 Almudaina of the Gumara 5.2 Castell d'Alaró, Hisn al-Rum 5.2.1 History 5.2.2 Architectural analysis 5.2.3 Viewshed analysis 5.2.4 Conclusion 5.3 Castell del Rei, Hisn Bulansa 5.3.1 History 5.3.2 Architectural Analysis 5.3.3 Viewshed analysis 5.3.4 Conclusion 5.4 Castell de Santueri, Hisn Falanis 5.4.1 History 5.4.2 Archaeological finds 5.4.3 Historical documentation 5.4.4 Architectural analysis 5.4.5 Viewshed analysis 6. The Minor Fortifications of Mallorca 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Puig de Sa Bastida 6.1.2 Architectural analysis 6.1.3 Other architectural remains 6.1.4 Viewshed analysis 6.1.5 Conclusion 6.3 The Tower of Canyamel/Montsó 6.3.1 History and documentation 6.3.2 Architectural analysis 6.3.3 Viewshed analysis 6.3.4 Conclusion 6.4 Castell de Moros/Castell d'es Moro, Deiá 6.4.1 Viewshed analysis 6.5 Palau dels Reis de Mallorca, Sineu 6.5.1 Architectural analysis 6.5.2 Conclusion 6.6 Almudaina d'Artá 6.6.1 Architectural analysis 6.6.2 Viewshed analysis 6.7 Torre d'en Nunís 6.7.1 Architectural analysis 6.7.2 Viewshed analysis 6.8 Puig de n'Escuder, Caimari 6.8.1 Architectural analysis 6.8.2 Ceramic remains 6.8.3 Viewshed analysis 6.9 Torre de Son Más, Andratx 6.9.1 Viewshed analysis 6.10 Puig de Randa 6.10.1 Viewshed Analysis 6.11 Castellet d'Esporles 6.12 Unsubstantiated place names and other sites 7. Synthesis and Discussion 7.1 The changing roles of the fortresses within their socio-political environment 7.1.1 Madina Mayurqa/Ciutat de Mallorca 7.1.2 The Castles 7.1.3 Mountain Refuges and Towers 7.2 Interconnectivity: Viewsheds and their interpretation 7.3 Geography and identity 7.3.1 Factors leading to Mallorca's administrational divergence form the mainland 7.3.2 Christian conquest of an Islamic island: transformation and adaptation of the territory 7.4 Fortification and politics on the mainland: Al-Andalus and the Maghreb 8. Conclusion 8.1 Scope for future enquiries Glossary Appendix Bibliography

Reviews

'This is an important and original contribution to a topic that has otherwise been published only in fragments within book chapters and journal articles. It contains a substantial amount of original fieldwork and spatial analysis.' Dr Aleks Pluskowski, University of Reading 'This work is highly original. As the author states, research on Islamic castles on Mallorca is minimal, and although there are parallel studies on mainland Iberia, the specific history of the Balearic Islands requires particular research that this study starts. This is an ambitious work, and it provides a baseline of suggestions and hypothesis that can become the bases of future works on the subject.' Dr Jose C. Carvajal Lopez, University of Leicester

{\rtf1\fbidis\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Calibri;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Verdana;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\lang1033\f0\fs22\lquote This book is a remarkable contribution to the field of medieval fortifications (\'85). Goffriller goes beyond the descriptive sphere, interpreting the conceptual value and socio-political role of these fortifications within the settled and cultural landscape of Mallorca.\rquote Matteo Giole Randazzo, Medieval Archaeology, Vol 65.2 (2022)\par \lang2057\par \pard\ltrpar\sa160\sl252\slmult1\lquote This is an important and original contribution to a topic that has otherwise been published only in fragments within book chapters and journal articles. It contains a substantial amount of original fieldwork and spatial analysis.\rquote \i Dr Aleks Pluskowski, University of Reading\i0\par \lquote This work is highly original. As the author states, research on Islamic castles on Mallorca is minimal, and although there are parallel studies on mainland Iberia, the specific history of the Balearic Islands requires particular research that this study starts. This is an ambitious work, and it provides a baseline of suggestions and hypothesis that can become the bases of future works on the subject.\rquote \i Dr Jose C. Carvajal Lopez, University of Leicester\i0\par \pard\ltrpar\f1\fs17\par }

{\rtf1\fbidis\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Calibri;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Verdana;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\lang1033\f0\fs22\lquote This book is a remarkable contribution to the field of medieval fortifications (\'85). Goffriller goes beyond the descriptive sphere, interpreting the conceptual value and socio-political role of these fortifications within the settled and cultural landscape of Mallorca.\rquote Matteo Giole Randazzo, Medieval Archaeology, Vol 65.2 (2022)\par \lang2057\par \pard\ltrpar\sa160\sl252\slmult1\lquote This is an important and original contribution to a topic that has otherwise been published only in fragments within book chapters and journal articles. It contains a substantial amount of original fieldwork and spatial analysis.\rquote \i Dr Aleks Pluskowski, University of Reading\i0\par \lquote This work is highly original. As the author states, research on Islamic castles on Mallorca is minimal, and although there are parallel studies on mainland Iberia, the specific history of the Balearic Islands requires particular research that this study starts. This is an ambitious work, and it provides a baseline of suggestions and hypothesis that can become the bases of future works on the subject.\rquote \i Dr Jose C. Carvajal Lopez, University of Leicester\i0\par \pard\ltrpar\f1\fs17\par }

Author Information

Martin S. Goffriller is an architectural historian and archaeologist with a focus on fortification and state formation in the medieval period. His specialism on tribal societies has led his research into globally diverse regions such as the Maghreb, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Since 2018 he has been based at the China University of Mining and Technology (Xuzhou), where he heads a long-term research project focused on Silk Road archaeology and state formation in Central Asia.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions