From Arabia to Bilād al-Shām: Muʿāwiya's Development of an Infrastructure and Monumental Architecture of Early Umayyad Statehood (original) (raw)

This article examines Muʿāwiya's role in the development of infrastructure and monumental architecture in the early Umayyad state, particularly focusing on his contributions in Arabia and Bilād al-Shām. It highlights his efforts toward tribal unification, agricultural development, and state-building through architectural construction during his tenure as governor of Syria and later as Commander of the Faithful. The paper discusses the lack of tangible evidence and the challenges in interpreting sources related to Muʿāwiya's architectural endeavors, ultimately arguing for a re-evaluation of his contributions to early Islamic monumental tradition.