Late Ottoman Gaza
An Eastern Mediterranean Hub in Transformation

Explores the history of Gaza from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries and compares it to other cities in the late Ottoman Eastern Mediterranean.

Yuval Ben-Bassat (Author), Johann Buessow (Author)

9781316518199, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 November 2024

206 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.7 cm, 0.44 kg

'Drawing from a wealth of memoirs and archival material, especially from the Ottoman archives, Bassat and Buessow have produced a highly detailed and valuable study of the city and neighboring villages, complete with numerous maps and aerial images … Highly recommended.' R. W. Zens, Choice

In contemporary public discourse, Gaza tends to be characterized solely as a theatre of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. However, little is known about Gaza's society, politics, economy, and culture during the Ottoman era. Drawing on a range of previously untapped local and imperial sources, Yuval Ben-Bassat and Johann Buessow explore the city's history from the mid-nineteenth century through WWI. They show that Gaza's historical importance extends far beyond the territory of the 'strip' since the city was an important hub for people, goods, and ideas in the Eastern Mediterranean from Antiquity until the twentieth century. Using new digital methodologies, Ben-Bassat and Buessow introduce readers to the world of Gazans from various walks of life, from the traditional Muslim elites to the commoners and minority communities of Christians and Jews. In so doing, they tell the lively story of this significant but frequently misunderstood city.

Introduction: Late Ottoman Gaza, a Coastal City Detached from the Sea
1. A Bird's Eye View of Gaza's Economy, Population and Geostrategic Position
2. Living in Late Ottoman Gaza
3. Relationships with the Rural Population
4. Gaza Style Politics and the Emergence of Spatialized Factionalism
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Middle Eastern history [HBJF1]