Urban History – Qariyetna | قريتنا

From the dawn of time people converged in communities, that became villages and then cities. Our small villages (kufr) sprouted into bigger villages (Qareya), which blossomed into towns and cities. Our urban journey is thousands of years developed, with the diverse empires that set foot on our land, served to decorate and engrave their legacies on our walls. The buildings still stand and prove that we accept, preserve and develop with each addition. Explore our cities and towns and walk where others have walked before.

Architecture History

Palestinian architecture is a fascinating blend of historical influences and contemporary adaptations, reflecting the region’s rich history and diverse cultural heritage. It’s shaped by its geographical location at the crossroads of civilizations and by the ongoing political and social context. Here’s a look at some key aspects:

Historical Influences:

Ancient Canaanite and Biblical Periods: Early architecture included temples, fortifications, and domestic structures, with evidence found in archaeological sites like Jericho and Megiddo.

Roman and Byzantine Periods: The Romans left their mark with impressive structures like aqueducts, amphitheaters, and public buildings. The Byzantine era saw the construction of numerous churches and monasteries.

Islamic Period: The arrival of Islam in the 7th century brought significant changes, with the construction of mosques, including the iconic Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

Ottoman Period: Ottoman rule left a lasting impact on Palestinian architecture, with influences seen in urban planning, domestic architecture, and public buildings.

British Mandate Period: This period saw the introduction of European architectural styles, including Art Deco and Bauhaus, which blended with local traditions.

Traditional Palestinian Architecture:

Stone Construction: Stone is a primary building material, readily available in the region. Traditional houses are often built with thick stone walls, providing insulation from the heat and cold.

Arches and Vaults: Arches and vaults are common architectural features, used for doorways, windows, and roof construction.

Courtyards: Courtyards are a key element in traditional Palestinian houses, providing private outdoor spaces and natural ventilation.

Flat Roofs: Flat roofs are common, often used as outdoor living spaces or for drying crops.

Contemporary Palestinian Architecture:

Challenges and Adaptations: Palestinian architects face numerous challenges, including limited resources, political instability, and restrictions on movement. They have adapted by using innovative and sustainable building techniques.

Preservation of Heritage: There is a growing movement to preserve and restore historic buildings and incorporate traditional architectural elements into contemporary designs.

Focus on Sustainability: Palestinian architects are increasingly focusing on sustainable building practices, using local materials and designing energy-efficient buildings.

Examples:

The Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem): An iconic Islamic shrine and a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

The Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem): One of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been born.

Traditional Palestinian villages: Villages like Battir and Lifta showcase traditional Palestinian architecture and rural life.

Palestinian architecture is a testament to the region’s rich history and cultural heritage. It reflects the ingenuity and resilience of the Palestinian people, who have adapted their building practices to the local environment and the challenges they face.

Battir

Battir is a village about 5 kilometers from Bethlehem with 4000 people living in it. Built on a hill with an active 2000 year old irrigation system from the Roman era. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its farming and a variety of eggplants that only grows there. البتنجان البتيري

Battir Houses

Lifta

Lifta was a Palestinian village on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

During the Ottoman period, the village was recorded to have a population of 400 Arabs, all Muslim households. In 1834, a battle took place in the village during the Palestinian Peasants’ Revolt. A British 1922 census registered Lifta’s population at 1,451, all Muslims.

Prior to 1948, the village had orchards, several olive presses, a winepress, in addition to a modern clinic, two coffeehouses, two carpentry shops, barbershops, a butcher, and a mosque. In the 1945 statistics the population of Lifta was 2,250; 2,230 Muslims and 20 Christians. In addition, a small number of Jews resided in the village, and one former Jewish inhabitant described the relationship her family and the Palestinian Arab majority as ‘excellent’.

During the 1948 Palestine war, a massacre occurred on 28 December 1947, when a Jewish militia launched a machine-gun and grenade assault on a cafe in Lifa. The mukhtar’s home was also incinerated by the Zionist forces and 20 buildings were blown up as the village was put under siege.[8] The village’s Palestinian Arab inhabitants were expelled, and the abandoned village was later repopulated by Jewish immigrants until 1970s. In July 2017, Israel declared Lifta as a national nature reserve. It has been referred to as the “Palestinian Pompeii”.

By ZeevStein – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73170062

Maps

Ottoman Period

These maps depict the region during the Ottoman Empire’s rule (roughly 1516-1917). They often show administrative divisions and place names as they existed at that time.

British Mandate

These maps show Palestine during the British Mandate (1920-1948), following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. They often reflect the changing political landscape and the increasing Jewish immigration to the region. The decision to award Britain the Mandate for Palestine in 1920 was guided by the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, drawn up at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference following WW1. There, the establishing Covenant of the League of Nations stated, in Article 22, that “certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognized, subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory until such time as they are able to stand alone.”

Palestine under British Mandate (1920-1948)

1929

The 1929 Hope Simpson Commission of Inquiry and the 1930 Shaw Commission of Inquiry emphasized the inability of Zionist immigration and settlement to destabilize Palestine’s economy and demography. The Shaw Commission urged the British government to urgently assess its immigration policy and address the meaning of passages in the Mandate, which purported to safeguard the interests of non-Jewish communities. The British ‘Passfield’ White Paper of October 1930 adopted these findings and ordered most land transfers frozen, while limiting immigration. However, Prime Minister McDonald revoked these clauses in February 1931, causing Palestinians to become increasingly frustrated with British policy. By 1936, the Jewish population had risen by over 150%, 62 settlements had been created, and nearly 1.5 million dunums of Palestinian land was the property of the Zionists. The Arab Revolt swept Mandate Palestine from April 1936 until October, causing the British to requisition additional troops. The Palestine Royal Commission, headed by Lord Peel, concluded that the Mandate should terminate and be replaced by a Treaty System, with Jerusalem and Bethlehem retained under a separate Mandate.

1947 UN Partition Plan

This map is crucial for understanding the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It outlines the UN’s proposed division of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. This plan was accepted by the Zionist leadership but rejected by Arab leaders. The British were unable to adopt the Peel proposal due to the Zionists’ refusal to accept 33% of Palestine and Palestinians’ refusal to endorse a plan for expulsion and mass transfer. However, the need to resolve the crisis became more urgent with the renewal of the Arab Revolt and escalating confrontations. In response, the Technical Commission of Inquiry, headed by Sir John Woodhead, was sent to Palestine in April 1938 to examine the possibility of partition. The Woodhead Commission examined at least three partition possibilities, including a large Jewish state, splitting a small Palestinian state into two cantons, and Amir Abdullah of Transjordan’s plan for a “United Arab Kingdom.” The Woodhead Commission’s findings amounted to a forceful rejection of the feasibility and equity of any partition. The Commission posited two plans for creating a Jewish state in Palestine: Plan C and Plan B. The Commission member Thomas Reid pointed to the “absence of equity,” “absence of security,” and “absence of consent” inherent in adopting any partition plan, concluding that even Plan C would not and could not be implemented.

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Architectural and historical development in palestine

This research paper gives a historic overview of the Palestnian architecture from the ancient times until today. The first chapter treats the ancient architecture. It introduces us to the first architectural findings on the territory of Palestine and the earliest Palestinian houses. We will see the differences of styles and buildings in prehistoric and ancient times from those built during Roma-Byzantine rule and later during ancient Greek-Roman influence. It is the time of the emergence and spread of Christianity, thus the period of building its temples - the churches. With the conquest of Palestine by the Arabs and islamization of the country the architecture suffers changes and is influenced by this new religion and new lifestile.

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Ancient Palestinian Architecture: From Canaanite Temples to Roman Villas

The architectural heritage of ancient Palestine is a testament to the rich and diverse history of the region. From the earliest Canaanite temples to the opulent Roman villas, the architecture of ancient Palestine reflects the changing cultural, religious, and political landscapes that shaped the lives of its inhabitants. In this article, we will embark on a journey through time to explore the evolution of ancient Palestinian architecture, tracing its development from the Canaanite period through the Roman era.

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Byzantine mosaics discovered under farm in Gaza

Byzantine mosaics dating from the 5th to 7th centuries were unveiled in the central Gaza Strip on Friday, after being uncovered by a farmer ploughing his land.

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Roman Palestine

After the destruction of Jerusalem, a legion (X Fretensis) was stationed on the site, and the rank of the provincial governor was raised from procurator to legatus Augusti, signifying a change from equestrian to senatorial rank. Caesarea Maritima, the governor’s residence, became a Roman colony, and, as a reward for the loyalty of the Greeks in the revolt, a new pagan city, Neapolis (modern Nablus in the West Bank), was founded at Shechem, the religious center of the Samaritans.

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Architecture of Palestine

The architecture of Palestine covers a vast historical time frame and a number of different styles and influences over the ages. The urban architecture of the region of Palestine prior to 1850 was relatively sophisticated. The Palestinian townhouse shared in the same basic conceptions regarding the arrangement of living space and apartment types commonly seen throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The rich diversity and underlying unity of the architectural culture of this wider region stretching from the Balkans to North Africa was a function of the exchange fostered by the caravans of the trade routes, and the extension of Ottoman rule over most of this area, beginning in the early 16th century through until the end of World War I.

Our Identity

Urban History – Qariyetna | قريتنا