The 16th century city of Shibam is located in Yemen and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1982.
The first known details of the city are from the 3rd century CE. Shibam was the capital of the Hadramawt Kingdom. The oldest metropolis in the world to use vertical construction, Shibam is an excellent example of city planning. With its fortified wall, the city is located in the heart of Yemen’s Wadi Hadramawt.
One can see the astonishing sight of ancient mud skyscrapers rising above the desert as a proof of man’s capacity to flourish even in the most unforgiving conditions.
Shibam was a major stop for caravans in the spice and incense route across the southern Arabian plateau. British Explorer Freya Stark called it The Manhattan of the desert in the 1930s. The city has been planned very systematically. It is situated on an elevated rocky surface which protects it from flooding.
However, the city was still close to primary water sources. It was constructed on a rectangular grid surrounded by a fortified wall. As a result, the inhabitants of the city were safe from enemy tribes and could see up to a long distance from their high vantage point.
Picture Credit : Google
