In the desert valleys of Yemen stands a city that looks like something out of a storybook. Shibam, often nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Desert,” is packed with tall mud-brick towers, some of which were built more than 500 years ago.
These ancient “skyscrapers” rise five to 11 stories high – nearly the height of Chicago’s first skyscrapers. Visitors marvel at the sight of the pale buildings made of local soil, clay, and straw. The sun-dried mud bricks keep the inside cool during blazing hot days, and the tall walls once helped protect people from floods and attacks. To this day, residents still repair the walls with fresh layers of mud to keep the towers standing strong.
Shibam sits in Yemen’s Hadramaut region, along old trade routes where merchants once traveled with spices, cloth, and other goods. Its maze of narrow streets and tall houses made it a safe place to live in the middle of the desert.
Today, Shibam is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its unique architecture and history. But the city faces challenges from heavy rain and erosion, neglect, and regional conflict. Preserving Shibam matters because it offers a rare glimpse into how people long ago built amazing cities with simple materials and thrived in extreme environments.
Yesel Kang Copy Editor junior/1760056312/1613368124
1. Who lives in the tall towers of Shibam today?
2. What challenges does Shibam face from weather and conflict?
3. Which materials were used to make the sun-dried mud bricks?
4. When were the tallest towers in Shibam built?
1. Would you like to visit Shibam to see its tall mud-brick towers?
2. How would you feel living in a city made of mud-brick buildings in the desert?
3. Which part of Shibam’s architecture do you find most interesting?
4. Do you think learning about ancient cities helps us understand modern architecture?
In the desert valleys of Yemen stands a city that looks like something out of a storybook. Shibam, often nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Desert,” is packed with tall mud-brick towers, some of which were built more than 500 years ago.
Shibam sits in Yemen’s Hadramaut region, along old trade routes where merchants once traveled with spices, cloth, and other goods. Its maze of narrow streets and tall houses made it a safe place to live in the middle of the desert.
