University of Kashan Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies 2252-0635 13 26 2025 03 15 Analyzing the Structural Development of Kerman from the 5th to the 10th Century AH, Based on the Role of Political Relations and Urban Elements Analyzing the Structural Development of Kerman from the 5th to the 10th Century AH, Based on the Role of Political Relations and Urban Elements 47 64 114725 10.22052/jias.2025.255674.1336 FA Ali Shafiee Nezhad M.A. student, Iranian Architectural Studies, Faculty of Architecture, School of Fine Arts, University of Tehran Alireza Anisi Associate Professor, Research Centre for Historic Buildings and Cities, Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) Journal Article 2024 10 24 The emergence of cities is typically based on political and economic factors, as well as natural and geographical characteristics. However, the persistence of urban life and the factors impacting their spatial organization transformations is a topic that demands further investigation, as it redefines urban structures and relationships within them in all historical eras based on the existing situation, government policies, and resulting relations. Previous studies have generally viewed cities as an entity detached from their surrounding system, with little attention paid to the impact of external political relations on their development process. In contrast, the formation and existence of Kerman in a region with unfavorable climatic conditions has always been dependent on commercial relations with surrounding cities. Thus, the political development has driven the urban and physical development of Kerman. The current study aims to understand these relationships and their impact on urban transformations and the spatial organization of Kerman across five centuries, from the 5th to the 10th century AH. Understanding the city's past structural layout requires examining local histories and primary sources, analyzing and explaining them, and comparing historical documents with architectural remains from each period as urban elements from their era. Thus, this study uses a historical-analytical approach with logical reasoning. The findings indicate that Kerman gained particular prominence from the 5th century AH. Its economic prosperity led to political and physical development in subsequent centuries, gradually transforming the Seljuk city's spatial organization. During the following five centuries, new urban cores emerged in each era, influenced by the status of lands within the city walls and the nature of political relations with surrounding cities. These cores consisted of important urban elements such as the Grand Mosque, Dar al-Siyada, bathhouses, and necessary facilities like qanats. The development of these elements laid the foundations for structural transformation, leading to the formation of new neighborhoods around the initial core and determining the primary direction of urban expansion in each era. The emergence of cities is typically based on political and economic factors, as well as natural and geographical characteristics. However, the persistence of urban life and the factors impacting their spatial organization transformations is a topic that demands further investigation, as it redefines urban structures and relationships within them in all historical eras based on the existing situation, government policies, and resulting relations. Previous studies have generally viewed cities as an entity detached from their surrounding system, with little attention paid to the impact of external political relations on their development process. In contrast, the formation and existence of Kerman in a region with unfavorable climatic conditions has always been dependent on commercial relations with surrounding cities. Thus, the political development has driven the urban and physical development of Kerman. The current study aims to understand these relationships and their impact on urban transformations and the spatial organization of Kerman across five centuries, from the 5th to the 10th century AH. Understanding the city's past structural layout requires examining local histories and primary sources, analyzing and explaining them, and comparing historical documents with architectural remains from each period as urban elements from their era. Thus, this study uses a historical-analytical approach with logical reasoning. The findings indicate that Kerman gained particular prominence from the 5th century AH. Its economic prosperity led to political and physical development in subsequent centuries, gradually transforming the Seljuk city's spatial organization. During the following five centuries, new urban cores emerged in each era, influenced by the status of lands within the city walls and the nature of political relations with surrounding cities. These cores consisted of important urban elements such as the Grand Mosque, Dar al-Siyada, bathhouses, and necessary facilities like qanats. The development of these elements laid the foundations for structural transformation, leading to the formation of new neighborhoods around the initial core and determining the primary direction of urban expansion in each era. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114725_2dd8211af02d6d2116132397b47f556b.pdf