Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 5, 2025

From Construction of mi?r to the “Mediterranean Chain”: The Historical Origins of the WANA City Belt

(Abstract)

Han Zhibin and Ma Zhengrong

Within the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) Region lies a faint but discernible Silk Road urban belt. This “Mediterranean mi?r Chain” stretches from the coastal cities of North Africa to the shores of West Asia, and in some instances, reaches deep into Central Asia. The origins of the Arab Empire’s frontier cities—mi?r—can be traced to the Hellenistic period, influenced by the urban forms of Alexander’s cities, Seleucid military-commercial poleis, Parthian autonomous cities, and Sassanian royal capitals. The emergence of mi?r was closely tied to the Arab Empire’s expansion, serving as strategic urban outposts for imperial conquest and governance. Their development unfolded in two major phases: during the reign of Caliph ‘Umar and later under the Umayyad Caliphate following the rule of ‘Uthmān. These cities, supported by Silk Road trade networks and local Islamic polities, gradually formed a transcontinental urban belt across Asia and Africa. This network served as a prototype for the modern city belts of Central Asia, West Asia, and North Africa, and marks the early formation of a Silk Road urban civilization. Merchants and scholars used these cities as bases for cross-border trade and cultural exchange, helping many of them to retain their roles as economic and intellectual hubs well into the modern era. Today, many remain prominent historical and cultural centers within their respective countries.