ABSTRACT
This is an introductory chapter, discussing the overall aim of the book, its objectives and methods of analysis. The chapter starts by posing some larger questions relating to the meaning of an Arabian sūq today and the different urban approaches employed to adapt its typology. Narrating some of the author’s personal experiences of the sūq, the chapter points at some current prejudices that seem to hegemonize our current perception and understanding of sūqs. The chapter then discusses the different sources available today on the subject, noting that there is an evident dearth of studies that are solely concerned with the idea of a sūq and its associated Arabian meanings. The chapter concludes with important methodical insights, proposing an alternative model for re-interpreting the sūq phenomenon.
