The First Urban Planning, Amarna

We could say that Amarna (Egypt, 1.346 B.C) was the first urban design in history, because the city was created with a specific and ordered design and plan. The first urban settlements were transition from nomadic to sedentary society. A group of houses, next to a fertile area, created villages or towns, but not in orderly way. Amarna or Tell el Amarna "The Horizon of the Aten" was the first city designed and planned according to certain uses, sized according to the population and located in a special place. During the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom), Egypt experienced the greatest period of splendor. The highest levels were reached in science and culture. Amenhotep IV, was the 10th pharaoh, who promoted radical transformations in society, making the god Aten the only deity of the official cult, the first historically documented religious reformer to impose monotheism on polytheism. His period involved changes in religious sphere, also philosophical, political and artistic reforms. Was a cultural and ideological change that shook the Egyptian society. In year 5 of his reign, Akhenaten began the construction of a city in a desert area, organized with a reticular pattern, according to the uses of buildings and neighborhoods. Was a pioneer urban planning, which lays the foundations for later urban developments in history. It was built in record time, 4 years. The module and standardized housing were also innovative, creating a model that was repeated, to form collective housing areas. It was the first documented housing study in history. Upon the death of the king, the city was deserted.

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Publication Details

Journal
Athens Journal of Architecture
Published
2025-09-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30958/aja.11-4-5
Primary Topic
Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
Type
article
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article

The First Urban Planning, Amarna

Mónica Monmeneu González
Athens Journal of Architecture
Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
article

The First Urban Planning, Amarna

Mónica Monmeneu González
article en

Abstract

We could say that Amarna (Egypt, 1.346 B.C) was the first urban design in history, because the city was created with a specific and ordered design and plan. The first urban settlements were transition from nomadic to sedentary society. A group of houses, next to a fertile area, created villages or towns, but not in orderly way. Amarna or Tell el Amarna "The Horizon of the Aten" was the first city designed and planned according to certain uses, sized according to the population and located in a special place. During the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom), Egypt experienced the greatest period of splendor. The highest levels were reached in science and culture. Amenhotep IV, was the 10th pharaoh, who promoted radical transformations in society, making the god Aten the only deity of the official cult, the first historically documented religious reformer to impose monotheism on polytheism. His period involved changes in religious sphere, also philosophical, political and artistic reforms. Was a cultural and ideological change that shook the Egyptian society. In year 5 of his reign, Akhenaten began the construction of a city in a desert area, organized with a reticular pattern, according to the uses of buildings and neighborhoods. Was a pioneer urban planning, which lays the foundations for later urban developments in history. It was built in record time, 4 years. The module and standardized housing were also innovative, creating a model that was repeated, to form collective housing areas. It was the first documented housing study in history. Upon the death of the king, the city was deserted.

Athens Journal of ArchitectureVol. 11(4)
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
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