Ottoman Palestine

Catalog description

This course focuses on Palestine during Ottoman rule, spanning from the 16th century to the 1920s. It explores the diverse peoples, territories, cities, and cultures of Palestine, alongside significant political developments. Key themes include the region's integration into the Ottoman Empire, the reconstruction of Jerusalem under Ottoman rule, European fascination with the "Holy Land," intricate dynamics among Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, Armenians, and Jews with fluid boundaries, the rise of regional powers, the expansion of global trade and capitalism, and the establishment of Jewish settlements alongside Ottoman reforms in the 19th century. The course culminates in discussions on contested notions of multi-religious and multi-national Ottoman citizenship, and examines the eventual demise of the Ottoman regime within the context of the Zionist movement, Palestinian and Arab nationalism, and European colonial ambitions.