Book
Hidden Complexities of the Frankish Castle
Social Aspects of Space in the Configurational Architecture of Frankish Castles in the Holy Land, 1099-1291
- Author
- Eva Mol
- Date
- 01 January 2012
This ASLU volume concerns the reconstruction of a social history of life in crusader castles in the Holy Land in the period of the Frankish occupation from 1099 to 1291 A.D. Although crusader castles are not the most neglected subjects of this relatively new branch in archaeology, they have been largely bypassed by debates on origin, function, symbolism, and social aspects.
In order to analyse the relationship between the users and built space Eva Mol employs the method and theory of space syntax. This technique opens up the ability to compare different structures of variable form and size and is able to retrieve the social norms which are grounded in the configuration and circulation patterns of the buildings.
By applying this onto crusader castles in the Levantine area and reflecting the results to the historical and socio-cultural context of the Frankish East, Eva Mol reveals new insights into the social structures, lifestyles, and behaviour of the inhabitants of the castles.
Eva Mol won the ‘Leidse Universitaire Scriptieprijs’ for the most excellent Master-thesis of Leiden University in 2009, which formed the basis of this work. She works at the University of Leiden on spatial analysis and Roman domestic contexts.
This volume can be ordered at:
Leiden University Press.
For more information see Leiden University Repository.