Alternate pathways to urbanism in the medieval Maghreb.

Examines the social determinants of urban evolution in the Maghreb rather than rank-size distribution or other empirical characteristics of the urban system. Two urban systems are developing in distinctive political-economic environments: one based on control over caravan trade by inland capital cities, and the other dependent on overseas trade managed by autonomous coastal entrepots. The further evolution of the two urban forms may reduce the differences between them.-from Authors