Routledge Damascus: A History - Cities of the Ancient World

Damascus: A History offers a comprehensive account of one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, tracing its remarkable journey from around 7000 BC to modern independence in 1946. First published in 2005, this pioneering work was the first major English-language history to fully document Damascus's crucial role in regional affairs across millennia. The book follows the city's physical and political evolution through successive rulers-from Aramaean and Persian periods through Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Turkish, and French governance. This updated edition incorporates recent scholarship and adds contemporary analysis of Syrian post-20th century events, providing readers with an authoritative and nuanced understanding of how Damascus shaped and was shaped by the civilisations that claimed it.