Nablus
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Where is Nablus located?
Nablus is a city situated in the West Bank. Nestled in a fertile valley, it serves as a market center, benefiting from numerous springs. Its modern name is derived from the Greek term Neapolis, meaning "New City." Nablus has been a largely Muslim Arab city for centuries, and is also the principal center of the small Samaritan community.
Nablus is located in the north-south oriented limestone hills, known as the Samarian Hills, north of Jerusalem.
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What is the historical significance of Nablus?
Nablus, located in the West Bank, holds historical significance stemming from its strategic location and fertile environment market center. Founded by the Romans as Flavia Neapolis in 72 CE, it later fell under Arab control in 636 CE, giving rise to its modern name, a derivation of the Greek term Nablus.
Nablus has been a largely Muslim Arab city for centuries, though it is also the principal centre of the small Samaritan community. Known as Jabal al-Nā ("Mountain of Fire") for its spirited opposition to British and Zionist forces during the British mandate, Nablus was a hub for guerrilla operations against Israel from 1948 to 1967 Nablus. After the Oslo Accords in 1993, Israeli forces withdrew, and the city came under Palestinian Authority control Nablus.
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Which groups of people have lived in Nablus throughout history?
Nablus has been inhabited by various groups throughout its history. Founded by the Romans in 72 CE, it was initially named Flavia Neapolis and later called Neapolis. In 636 CE, Arabs conquered the city, and its modern name, Nablus, is derived from an Arabic adaptation of the Greek name. From 1099 to 1187, Crusaders held the city, referring to it as Naples, and it briefly served as their capital.
Nablus has been a predominantly Muslim Arab city for centuries but also serves as the primary center for the Samaritan community. During the British mandate (1920–48), Nablus was a focal point of Arab opposition to both British rule and the Zionist movement.
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What is Nablus known for today?
Today, Nablus, located in the West Bank, is known as a market center within a fertile valley, watered by numerous springs. It has been a largely Muslim Arab city for centuries and is also the principal center of the small Samaritan community.
Nablus's economy was traditionally based on agricultural trade and handicrafts, most notably the manufacturing of soap from olive oil, and has become a center of industry and commerce in modern times. A number of educational facilities are centered in Nablus, including the An-Najah National University. The city also has notable cultural sites such as the Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr and Jāmiʿ al-Naṣr mosques, the old Samaritan quarter, and the traditional site of Jacob’s Well.
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What role does Nablus play in the Palestinian economy and culture?
Nablus is a city in the West Bank that serves as a market center because of its fertile valley and numerous springs. Nablus's economy has traditionally relied on agricultural trade and handicrafts, especially the soap industry that uses olive oil. In modern times, it has grown into a center for industry and commerce.
Nablus has several cultural sites, such as the Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr and Jāmiʿ al-Naṣr mosques, the old Samaritan quarter, and Jacob’s Well. Nablus is also home to Al-Najah National University and the Nablus Municipality Public Library.
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How has Nablus been affected by recent conflicts and political situations in the region?
Nablus, a city in the West Bank, has been significantly affected by regional conflicts and political situations. A principal center of Arab opposition to both British rule and the Zionist movement during the British mandate, Nablus was the scene of frequent unrest.
From 1948 to 1967, it was a center for guerrilla operations against Israel, and resistance activities continued after the Six-Day War in 1967, though the situation tempered by the early 1970s. Following the 1993 Oslo Accords, Israeli forces evacuated Nablus, and the city came under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
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Nablus, city in the West Bank. It lies in an enclosed fertile valley and is the market centre of a natural oasis that is watered by numerous springs.
Founded under the auspices of the Roman emperor Vespasian in 72 ce and originally named Flavia Neapolis, the city prospered in particular because of its strategic site and the abundance of nearby springs. Later called Julia Neapolis, or simply Neapolis (Greek: “New City”), it is portrayed on the 6th-century Maʾdabā map (see Maʾdabā). It was conquered by the Arabs in 636 ce; the modern name is an Arabic corruption of the Greek form. The city was held by the Crusaders from 1099 until 1187; they called it Naples, and it was briefly the Crusader capital.
The city site of Nablus is not identical to the site of the ancient Canaanite city of Shechem, although the two have long been associated with one another. Shechem, an important city in ancient Palestine, was noted in particular for its position between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (Arabic: Jabal al-Ṭūr and Jabal ʿAybāl, respectively) in an east-west pass, one of the few such routes in Palestine’s hill country. The two cities have been closely (though erroneously) equated for almost 2,000 years: both rabbinic and early Christian literature commonly equated Nablus with ancient Shechem, and Nablus has been called Shekhem in Hebrew to the present. Ruins of the Canaanite city lie at Tall al-Balāṭah, to the east of the present city of Nablus; these show evidence of settlement from the Middle Bronze II period (c. 1900–c. 1750 bce).
Nablus has been a largely Muslim Arab city for centuries, though it is also the principal centre of the small Samaritan community. In modern times Nablus was part of the British mandate of Palestine (1920–48); after the withdrawal of British forces, it was subsequently annexed by Jordan. A principal centre of Arab opposition both to Britain and to the Zionist movement during the mandate, it was the scene of frequent unrest. Its reputation for successful resistance in several incidents, combined with the high terrain surrounding the city, earned it the nickname Jabal al-Nār (“Mountain of Fire”). From 1948 to 1967 Nablus was a centre of guerrilla operations directed against Israel. Resistance activities continued after the Six-Day War of 1967 and the subsequent Israeli occupation of the city, but by the early 1970s the situation had tempered. After the October War of 1973, Nablus once again became a centre of Arab opposition to the occupying forces. In the wake of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Nablus was evacuated by Israeli forces, and the city came under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
Nablus’s economy was traditionally based on agricultural trade and handicrafts—most notably, the important and long-established industry of manufacturing soap from olive oil. It became a centre of industry and commerce in modern times. A number of educational facilities are centred in Nablus. Al-Najaḥ National University (1977) offers courses of study in a range of fields; courses are primarily taught in Arabic, although English is the language of instruction for the sciences. The Nablus Municipality Public Library, also situated in the city, houses primarily Arabic and English volumes. Among Nablus’s notable cultural sites are the Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr and Jāmiʿ al-Naṣr mosques, which are built on the remains of Byzantine churches; the old Samaritan quarter; and the traditional site of Jacob’s Well, south of the city. Pop. (2017) 156,906.