Why Did Cities Evolve in Gharb Al-Andalus? Network analysis as a potential method for charting city growth

The Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula has been closely associated with urban centres since 8th century. Using an approach based on Network Theory, purpose of this article is to understand and debate influence that various cities exerted each other through communication routes during Islamic Gharb Al-Andalus – now modern-day Portugal - how affected growth those cities. This study intends use statistical analysis Theory its centrality measures order build a network geographical relationships between Al-Andalus. these indicates mutation importance such might result from their geographic location, but also by city had over nearest ones. theory measuring value at certain moment, it would be possible indicate probability either grow or decline subsequent period. was surely due political, military, religious commercial contacts but, likewise, different ways were connected (terrestrial, fluvial maritime).