The book is organized chronologically, by political history, and then by theme; a great deal of space is devoted to archaeological history, art history, and architecture. Also discusses the physical nature of the city: how the art, the growth of the streets, and the politics all affected the city's appearance today. The history, mythology, art, and décor of significant mosques in the city are included. Contains about 800 pages of analysis, with a great number of photographs and illustrations.