Bukhara - the eastern Dome of Islam: urban development, urban space, architecture and population

"Bukhara is one of the architectural miracles of the East. A Persian author of the Middle Ages called Bukhara the "Eastern Dome of Islam". This honorary title was given to the city on account of its prestige as one of the most famous centers of learning in the Islamic world. Many outstanding scholars, among them the great philosopher and medic Avicenna (Ibn Sina), came from Bukhara. Therefore it is not surprising that the name of the city itself is traditionally derived from the Indian Buddhist term "vihara" (place of learning)." "In this book a city planner, an architect and a historian trace the urban development of this outstanding city and analyse its architecture in urban and historical contexts from its origins in the pre-Islamic period to the situation today. The authors did extensive fieldwork in Bukhara and have published a number of books and many articles on Near Eastern and Persian architecture and urbanism."--Jacket.