Following his capture of Damascus in 547 / 1154, Nur al-Din Mahmud bin Zangi united Syria and many of the cities became political, economic and cultural centres each with its own thriving court life. The Atabegs and Ayyubids were dedicated patrons of architecture, restoring city walls and citadels, commissioning new madrasas, bimaristans, hammams, suqs (markets) and mosques. Palaces were furnished with sumptuous carpets, fine metalwork and glass vessels.