Jerusalem: From the Ottomans to the British

About the Book

In December 1917, British troops entered Jerusalem, thereby ending Ottoman rule and opening a new and important era in the history of Jerusalem. Roberto Mazza discusses the period of transition from Ottoman rule to the British administration, focusing on the socio-political changes from the nineteenth century to the twentieth, the impact of the First World War and the ongoing development of Jerusalem into the vibrant city it has become. He considers the impact of the change in administration on the local population and uses case studies to provide new perspectives on this often overlooked period in Jerusalem's history.

Table of Contents:

Lists of Tables
List of Maps
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Introduction

Chapter 1: Modernising Jerusalem: Administration and Population
From Ottoman to Egyptian rule and back
From the Tanzimat to the Young Turks through the Hamidian era: patterns of governance and administration
The Sancak and the Mutasarrif
The Municipality of Jerusalem
The Councils ruling Jerusalem
The Notables of Jerusalem in the late Ottoman era
The People of Jerusalem (1905-1922): figures and definitions

Chapter 2: Christianity at War
The Christian Churches of Jerusalem in history
Patriarchates between the Ottomans and the European Powers
The Churches and the Capitulations
‘Peace’ among Christians: the Status Quo, origins and developments
Christian Churches facing mobilisation and war
The Custody of the Holy Land
The Custody in the aftermath of the war: local and international dimensions
The strange allies: Arab Christians and Muslims together

Chapter 3: Foreigners in Jerusalem
Visiting Jerusalem
Consulates
Foreigners and the War
Consul of War: Conde de Ballobar
Consular missions in the aftermath of the War

Chapter 4: The War and the British conquest of Jerusalem
Preparing for war: mobilisation of human, material and ideological resources
The real value of Jerusalem at the beginning of the war
The British conquest of Jerusalem: 9 December 1917
‘Gerusalemme Liberata’
‘A dramatic incident of war’: the surrender of Jerusalem
Jerusalem conquered: local, British and international reactions
The end of the last Crusade?

Chapter 5: British Military Rule 1917-1920 and the case of the Nebi Musa Riots
Military rule: 1917-1920
The ‘despot’ ruler of Jerusalem: Ronald Storrs
Planning Jerusalem
April 1920: Nebi Musa Riots

Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
Index

About the Author :
Roberto Mazza is Assistant Professor of History at Western Illinois University. He holds a PhD from SOAS, University of London and is the co-editor of Jerusalem in World War I: The Palestine Diary of a European Diplomat (I.B.Tauris).

Review :
'[this book] provides students of the Middle East, Palestine and Jerusalem a cogent and rich discussion of a unique moment in Jerusalem's history - he should be commended for undertaking such thorough research to complete this study.' International Journal of Middle East Studies '..an important work which should provoke further debate about this crucial moment in the history of Palestine.' Bulletin of SOAS 'This fine book covers new ground on the history of both Jerusalem and Palestine. Roberto Mazza sheds light on a crucial and under-researched period of the history of Palestine which witnessed the issue of the Balfour declaration and the fast development of Zionist propaganda as a prelude to the establishment of the British mandate' Nelida Fuccaro, Reader in the Modern History of the Middle East, SOAS, University of London 'Roberto Mazza's study is the best work we have to date on Jerusalem during the transition from Ottoman to British rule.' Nir Arielli, Lecturer in International History and Politics, University of Leeds 'Roberto Mazza's study highlights the essential mechanisms and infrastructures that were in place in Jerusalem during the Ottoman era and how this had an impact on British visions for the city' Vivian Ibrahim, Croft Assistant Professor of History and International Studies of the Middle East, University of Mississippi