Nil (Iraq)

The site of an-Nīl, located at modern-day Niliyah in Iraq, represents a significant medieval urban center founded in the 7th century CE by Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. This city was strategically established on the Shatt en-Nil canal for land reclamation purposes. Despite the Mongol invasion in 1258 CE, an-Nīl thrived for nearly a century more, unlike many other settlements that declined. The archaeological remains at Niliyah indicate that an-Nīl was a large city, including a baked brick bridge, known as the Qanṭara al-Māsī, which connected the city across the canal. Additionally, the site features an industrial area with a brick factory and a small square tomb southeast of the bridge. The city was eventually abandoned around 1350 CE, leaving behind a rich legacy of medieval urban planning and water management.