3/3 Thursday

Mamluk Jerusalem, 1250-1516

·      “soldier of slave” origin, influenced by Islam

·      Jerusalem becomes a religious center

o   Ziyara “visit” to Jerusalem (vs. Hajj “pilgrimage” to Mecca)

·      Politically and militarily insignificant

o   Used as a place of political exile

o   A city without walls: militarily weak

·      Development of the Haram (Temple Mount)

·      Intensive building of schools, hospices, hostels

·      Architecture

o   Domes, muqarnas (decorative technique inside domes and above entrances), red&white stones, black&white designs

o   Al-Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya: Qur’anic school built in 1482 by Sulta an-Ashraf Qaitbey

o   Ghawanima minaret: built ca. 1298 by the Chief Judge of Jerusalem

·      3 main areas: on Haram al-Sharif, outside the Haram (along its northern and western walls), along the street running east from Jaffa Gate to western wall of Haram -> Islamic quarter today

o   Haram: towers on corners built, minarets added, Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque restored

·      Growth of Jewish Quarter

o   Rabbi Moses ben Nachman makes aliyah (journey up to Jerusalem) in 1267 CE: founds Ramban Synagogue, stresses aliyah, and develops Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism)

Ottoman Jerusalem (1516-1918)

·      Selim I defeats Mamluks in 1517, Jerusalem peacefully surrendered in 1516

·      Jerusalem under strong centralized government (Ottoman Administration)

·      Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520-1566): attempts to make Jerusalem the third great city of Islam

o   Rebuilds wall of Jerusalem (1536-1541)

o   Refurbishes the Haram and its monuments

o   Establishes a shari’a court (law based on Qu’ran)

o   Jewish refugees encouraged to settle in Jerusalem to restore city

·      Ottoman architecture: Damascus Gate, Jaffa Gate, St. Stephen’s Gate

·      Western Wall: not wall of Temple but part of retaining wall that surrounded the Temple

o   Given to Jews by Suleiman as a place of prayer

o   Attracts myths: Shekinah (presence of God) settled there after destruction of Temple

During this period, we begin to see the increase in religious importance of Jerusalem and also tolerance of Jews and Christians under foreign powers. It was interesting to see how these new powers were better diplomats and did not resort to wiping out the Jews and not allowing them to freely practice their religion. Although this period wasn't particularly interesting for me, I am curious to learn how this period leads to modern Jerusalem.