Source A: Description of the Round City of Baghdad

"The city of Baghdad is built in a perfect circle, with walls made of fired brick and a wide, deep moat surrounding it. In the center stands the caliph’s palace, and the city is divided into four equal parts, each with its own markets, mosques, and administrative buildings. The streets are wide and straight, designed to facilitate movement and defense. The city’s design reflects the knowledge and ambitions of its builders, aiming to create a hub of learning, culture, and power. The Round City is renowned for its beauty and order, attracting scholars, traders, and visitors from distant lands. Its walls are said to be so strong that enemies find it difficult to breach, and its planning is considered a marvel of engineering for the time."* Provenance: Anonymous traveler, 900 AD, travel report.