DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36287#0054
32
TOPOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN CENTRAL SYRIA,
In view of its situation, the size and relative prosperity of the city are astonishing
to the newcomer. Its inhabitants number about 125,000 and their houses are for the
most part substantially built of stone, but there are no great manufactures to bring
wealth, and agriculture in the surrounding country is at a low ebb. Silk and cotton
goods, however, are made in moderate quantities. The city is isolated from the
world's great markets, and yet it has thrived in the past upon the trade between India,
Persia, Egypt, Asia Minor, and the countries of Europe, for the great caravans of camels
and donkeys laden with a varied merchandise were obliged to make it a stopping-place.
There was no other convenient and safe route; food and other supplies had to be
secured; and it was often necessary to form a new caravan and transfer the goods from
one to the other. The city grew rich not only through these circumstances, but it also
took advantage of its opportunities by levying a customs tax upon the merchandise
passing through its gates. A number of causes have been instrumental in bringing
about a change in the situation, the most important of which were the discovery of the
sea route from India and Persia to Europe around the Cape of Good Hope, and later
the opening of the Suez Canal. But in spite of the fact that the bulk of the trade that
Aleppo formerly had has been absorbed by these other routes, the city's streets are still
filled with a busy and bustling throng. Most of the trade now consists of the expor-
tation of local products such as grain, hides, wool, silk, and pistachio nuts. The gardens
outside of the walls are small and few in number and cannot be compared with the
extensive ones of Damascus. The trees to the north are notable only because of the
rarity of trees in Syria. The water supply comes largely from the Nahr Kuwek, a
shallow but clear stream, some eight meters in width, which hows through the city.
Aleppo has had a tempestuous history, at least during the Christian era. In the
fourth century B.c. it came into the hands of Seleucus Nicator, who gave it the Mace-
donian name of Beroea. This was retained as an official name until Abu 'Ubeida and his
Arabs won the city in 638 A.n., when the earlier name, Chaleb, was resumed. The
modern Arabic form of the name is Haleb.
In 540 A.D. Khosrau the Persian took possession and demanded tribute, which the
people were unable to pay. In 611 Khosrau II in turn occupied the city. In the
tenth century it became the capital of the Hamdanid sultans, but soon afterward, in the
latter part of the century, it was made part of the Greek empire under Zimisces, emperor
of Constantinople. Then followed the Crusades, which involved Aleppo; and later,
during the twelfth century, it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes. In 1260 the
Mongols took possession, and again in 1280 they sacked the city. Then came the
Mameluke sultans of Egypt, who continued it as the capital of North Syria. In 1400
Timur Lenk or Tamerlane defeated the Syrians near Aleppo's gates and destroyed the
city. In 1516 the Turkish sultan Selim ended the rule of the Mamelukes, took Aleppo,
and since then the Turks have remained in possession.
TOPOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN CENTRAL SYRIA,
In view of its situation, the size and relative prosperity of the city are astonishing
to the newcomer. Its inhabitants number about 125,000 and their houses are for the
most part substantially built of stone, but there are no great manufactures to bring
wealth, and agriculture in the surrounding country is at a low ebb. Silk and cotton
goods, however, are made in moderate quantities. The city is isolated from the
world's great markets, and yet it has thrived in the past upon the trade between India,
Persia, Egypt, Asia Minor, and the countries of Europe, for the great caravans of camels
and donkeys laden with a varied merchandise were obliged to make it a stopping-place.
There was no other convenient and safe route; food and other supplies had to be
secured; and it was often necessary to form a new caravan and transfer the goods from
one to the other. The city grew rich not only through these circumstances, but it also
took advantage of its opportunities by levying a customs tax upon the merchandise
passing through its gates. A number of causes have been instrumental in bringing
about a change in the situation, the most important of which were the discovery of the
sea route from India and Persia to Europe around the Cape of Good Hope, and later
the opening of the Suez Canal. But in spite of the fact that the bulk of the trade that
Aleppo formerly had has been absorbed by these other routes, the city's streets are still
filled with a busy and bustling throng. Most of the trade now consists of the expor-
tation of local products such as grain, hides, wool, silk, and pistachio nuts. The gardens
outside of the walls are small and few in number and cannot be compared with the
extensive ones of Damascus. The trees to the north are notable only because of the
rarity of trees in Syria. The water supply comes largely from the Nahr Kuwek, a
shallow but clear stream, some eight meters in width, which hows through the city.
Aleppo has had a tempestuous history, at least during the Christian era. In the
fourth century B.c. it came into the hands of Seleucus Nicator, who gave it the Mace-
donian name of Beroea. This was retained as an official name until Abu 'Ubeida and his
Arabs won the city in 638 A.n., when the earlier name, Chaleb, was resumed. The
modern Arabic form of the name is Haleb.
In 540 A.D. Khosrau the Persian took possession and demanded tribute, which the
people were unable to pay. In 611 Khosrau II in turn occupied the city. In the
tenth century it became the capital of the Hamdanid sultans, but soon afterward, in the
latter part of the century, it was made part of the Greek empire under Zimisces, emperor
of Constantinople. Then followed the Crusades, which involved Aleppo; and later,
during the twelfth century, it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes. In 1260 the
Mongols took possession, and again in 1280 they sacked the city. Then came the
Mameluke sultans of Egypt, who continued it as the capital of North Syria. In 1400
Timur Lenk or Tamerlane defeated the Syrians near Aleppo's gates and destroyed the
city. In 1516 the Turkish sultan Selim ended the rule of the Mamelukes, took Aleppo,
and since then the Turks have remained in possession.