This volume outlines the urban development of eight cities in the Middle East and North Africa: Aleppo, Alexandria, Ankara, Cairo, Casablanca, Dubai, Nouakchott, and Shiraz. Ottoman rule and colonial powers, French or British, operated differently and over various time spans in most of these cities to influence architecture and the urban scene. Global movements such as modernism and socialism reshaped the cityscapes of intersecting histories and cultures.

Maps, sketches, and other visuals trace the urban outcomes of Ottoman rule, colonial powers, and post-independence governments to show how they altered these cities. Class distinctions, informal settlements, and devalued built heritage are common urban issues that the cities of the MENA region still face today.

• Focuses on political and social developments as they influence each city’s built environment

• Discusses all types of built heritage and forms of architecture in the eight exemplary cities

• Visualizes the urban development through many coloured maps, sketches, and charts