Description
Book SynopsisAn expansive history of Jerusalem as a cultural crossroads, and a fresh look at the urban development of one of the world's most mythologized cities. Jerusalem is often seen as an eternal battlefield in the clash of civilizationsand in endless, inevitable wars of religion. But if we abandon this limiting image when reviewing the entirety of its concrete urban historyfrom its beginnings to todaywe discover a global city at the world's crossroads. Jerusalem is the common cradle of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, whose long and intertwined pasts include as much exchange and reciprocal influence as conflict and confrontation. This synthetic account is the first to make available to the general public Jerusalem's whole history, informed by the latest archaeological finds, unexplored archives, and ongoing research and offering a completely renewed understanding of the city's past and geography. This book is an indispensable guide to understanding why the world converges on Jerusalem.
Trade Review"A welcome addition to the historiography on the holy city. . . . Jerusalem is an engrossing read, making the sacred city’s multilayered history come alive."
* Religion *
"Vivid, clear, and easily understood. . . .This is the book for anyone who loves Jerusalem and has an interest in its history—and does not fear footnotes and references." * Middle East Quarterly *
"
Jerusalem: History of a Global City is a valuable contribution to the scientific approach to learning about the true history of Jerusalem, the center of all three monotheistic religions. It is an excellent, accessible read for the non-specialist, despite the meticulous details of the chronological history and archeological findings." * Arab Studies Quarterly *
Table of ContentsList of Maps
Introduction. Spirits of Places, Fractures in Time: Toward a New History of Jerusalem
1. The Birth of a Holy City: 4000 BCE to Second Century CE
2. Roman Pantheon, Christian Reliquary, and Jewish Traditions: Second to Seventh Centuries
3. In the Empire of the Caliphs: Seventh to Eleventh Centuries
4. Jerusalem, Capital of the Frankish Kingdom: 1099–1187
5. From Saladin to Süleyman: The Islamization of the Holy City, 1187–1566
6. The Peace of the Ottomans: Sixteenth to Nineteenth Centuries
7. The Impossible Capital? Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century
Conclusion. The Memory of the Dead, the History of the Living
Chronology
Notes
Bibliography
List of Contributors
Index
