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Raqqa : A History of the Destruction of Cultural Heritage

Al Khabour, Anas LU (2021) In Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement Series 57. p.183-195
Abstract
In the present paper I will demonstrate the history of Raqqa’s cultural heritage, its floruit and its destruction, from its resettlement in the 19th century until the “Islamic State” period. I will also discuss the recent situation and the challenges to heritage associated with post-war construction in Raqqa. Raqqa was the summer capital of the caliph Harun Al Rashid and the centre of government for the Islamic world for 13 years. After the Mongols’ invasion in 1258 the city was abandoned for six centuries. The Ottoman Empire encouraged people to settle in the city by building the police station in 1863. After that date, many changes occurred to the city’s cultural heritage, but the most destructive challenge was the arrival of a new... (More)
In the present paper I will demonstrate the history of Raqqa’s cultural heritage, its floruit and its destruction, from its resettlement in the 19th century until the “Islamic State” period. I will also discuss the recent situation and the challenges to heritage associated with post-war construction in Raqqa. Raqqa was the summer capital of the caliph Harun Al Rashid and the centre of government for the Islamic world for 13 years. After the Mongols’ invasion in 1258 the city was abandoned for six centuries. The Ottoman Empire encouraged people to settle in the city by building the police station in 1863. After that date, many changes occurred to the city’s cultural heritage, but the most destructive challenge was the arrival of a new ideology and new people who targeted both the inhabitants and their heritage. This was the so-called “Islamic State” in Iraq and Syria, which settled in Raqqa, making it the capital de facto of the state; this period is known to the local population as “the dark plague”. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Heritage in Conflict
series title
Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement Series
editor
Jackson, Heather ; Jamieson, Andrew ; Robinson, Abby and Russell, Sophie
volume
57
pages
13 pages
publisher
Peeters Publishers
ISBN
9789042943186
9789042943179
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6ae9868e-1dc4-4138-81e1-e12d61d13d1d
date added to LUP
2022-09-06 16:49:56
date last changed
2023-04-27 12:24:14
@inbook{6ae9868e-1dc4-4138-81e1-e12d61d13d1d,
  abstract     = {{In the present paper I will demonstrate the history of Raqqa’s cultural heritage, its floruit and its destruction, from its resettlement in the 19th century until the “Islamic State” period. I will also discuss the recent situation and the challenges to heritage associated with post-war construction in Raqqa. Raqqa was the summer capital of the caliph Harun Al Rashid and the centre of government for the Islamic world for 13 years. After the Mongols’ invasion in 1258 the city was abandoned for six centuries. The Ottoman Empire encouraged people to settle in the city by building the police station in 1863. After that date, many changes occurred to the city’s cultural heritage, but the most destructive challenge was the arrival of a new ideology and new people who targeted both the inhabitants and their heritage. This was the so-called “Islamic State” in Iraq and Syria, which settled in Raqqa, making it the capital de facto of the state; this period is known to the local population as “the dark plague”.}},
  author       = {{Al Khabour, Anas}},
  booktitle    = {{Heritage in Conflict}},
  editor       = {{Jackson, Heather and Jamieson, Andrew and Robinson, Abby and Russell, Sophie}},
  isbn         = {{9789042943186}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  pages        = {{183--195}},
  publisher    = {{Peeters Publishers}},
  series       = {{Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement Series}},
  title        = {{Raqqa : A History of the Destruction of Cultural Heritage}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}