SHËNIME MBI FORTIFIKIMET E DURRËSIT NË PERIUDHËN OSMANE
OBSERVATIONS ON DURRËS FORTIFICATIONS IN THE OTTOMAN PERIOD

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is related with the treatment of the main military topographic aspects of the city of Durrës during the Ottoman period. This goal we tried to achieve through combining the data taken from different sources. In relation with the city's fortifications, it’s already clear that their evolution is more complicated that has thought. Also, already we have clear evidences that the investments of the Ottoman Empire on fortifications have been considerable. Unfortunately such studies and analyzes lacked and as consequence not only the constructions of this period have been totally ignored, but also have created considerable misunderstandings and misuse. From the other part, the design of the city organization within the walls, proves that has had an urban continuity from the medieval city to the Ottoman era even why on modest dimensions. After, these basic aspects of the city organization are fossilized, also imposing to the modern age, in the main lines of the city development. The clearer evidence are the roads, especially those who follow the north-south axes. Already we have clearly shown that nevertheless the evolution of fortification in the southeastern line, there has been a continuity of a superpose established since the Late Antiquity. The designed roads in the second map have as starting point the territory near this line of walls. Those for sure follow the axes of the medieval roads. Preserving the medieval urban organization, also the continuity of the Ottoman city has preserved the same development principles. Of course, were the enduring changes of the dwellings evolution, connected for many reasons, mainly with the land property. These data reject the description of Idris Bitlisi that after the occupation of Durrës, the Ottomans rebuild everything within the city. The urban continuity shows the opposite.

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