The Role of Idrisids in Developing Settlement And Urbanization in North Africa

The present study takes a descriptive-analytical approach and aims at explaining the causes and factors for Idrisids’ support of settlement and urbanization in northern Africa as well as investigating the most important measures they took in this regard. According to the findings of the study, the followings were the most important factors for the Idrisids’ support of settlement and urbanization: Creating security, political stability, and financial support in establishing government; specifying a capital; attracting, merging and settlement of various tribes in urban areas; choosing places and cities with strategic and geopolitical position against the Abazids and Safarids Khawarij as well as Banu-Madar and Bani-Rostam anti-Shiite governments; sighting important and strategic areas of far west and middle west; considering geographic and political issues, including distance, for better reaching to various regions of the north Africa; and supporting settled and urban groups against tribal forces of Khawarij. Thus, the followings are among the most important measures taken by Al Idris in this regard: establishing and building commercial-political cities such as Fas and settling different tribes; building mosques; minting coins; delivering sermons and holding meetings for lectures in squares and mosques; building workshops for oiling, tannery, and making soaps; supporting private ownership in cities; digging wells for water; buying lands; developing agriculture, gardens and urban areas.