The remains of a crusader town built from 1104 to 1291 testify to life in the capital of the crusader kingdom of jerusalem. Explore israel s northern coastline on our one day caesarea, haifa, rosh hanikra and akko tour. A team from national geographic led by dr albert lin has uncovered a series of tunnels under the modern israeli city of akko known as acre 800 years ago. Israels short modern history is fraught with conflict. The rise and fall of a palestinian city, 17301831 history.
An ancient and wondrous city, akko boasts many remarkable sites including the remnants of the hellenisticroman period as well as structures from the crusader and ottoman periods. Acre also has one of the largest arab populations nearly 28% of any israeli city outside the west bank. With interesting, culturally molded buildings, ruins and sights around every corner, acre is a mustvisit location in the north of israel. This synagogue is covered in beautiful mosaics that explore the history of the jewish people. Long known for its strategic location, the city has been invaded, and resettled throughout its history which officially started in 35003050 bc, however major. Throughout the 1950s many jewish neighbourhoods were established at the northern and eastern parts of the city, as it became a development town, designated to absorb numerous jewish immigrants, largely jews from morocco. Ancient acre in the elamarna letters, the king of acre, zurata, and later his son, zutana, appear as rivals of megiddo and together with the king of achshaph, as allies of jerusalem. But whether because of its outoftheway location in the countrys north or simply because it must compete with betterknown sites like jerusalem and the desert fortress of masada, acre has been overshadowed. Masada is an ancient stone fortress in israel, located high above the dead sea on a tall, rocky mesa. A variety of different cultures have inhabited acre throughout its history, including the crusaders and the ottomans, each leaving their mark on this region. Acre, israel, part of the country with s of years of history and a. Brown, john brights a history of israel will continue to be a standard for a new generation of students of the old testament. Considered one of the middle easts longest continually inhabited cities, akkos archaeological remains date back to the early bronze age.
The sites youll explore on this tour include caesarea, once an important and strategic port of the roman. The siege was unique in the history of the crusades since the frankish besiegers were. This book remains a classic in the literature of theological education. The city of acre on the syrian coast was once a famous crusader stronghold. In the centuries following the crusades the city had slipped into oblivion, and by the time of the ottoman conquest, acre was a collection of ruins in which only a few arab fishermen found shelter. Israel attacked egypt, jordan and syria between june 5 and june 10, 1967. Located on the shore in the north of israel, the ancient port city is home to thousands of years of fascinating history that encompass the romans, crusaders, ottomans and even one napoleon bonaparte. Akko israel the gateway to the holy land visit akko. Encyclopedia of jewish and israeli history, politics and culture, with. Akko, the place called acre in the bible, is one of the most thrilling spots in israel. This restaurant is so popular that we decided to book a table in advance.
Jerusalem is the seat of government and the proclaimed capital, although the latter status has not received wide international recognition. Akkos impressive harbor was known for centuries as the gateway to the holy land, and here thousands of ships brought international dignitaries, lumber, spices, and other exotic goods to israel. Now an israeli national park and a unesco world heritage site, the 840 acre. The city of acre akko is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back to the time of the pharaoh thutmose iii 15041450 bce it is a city of intrigue, where you can walk through labyrinthine alleys and streets and explore the remnants of crusader, muslim and ottoman conquerors. The fivestar renovated hotel called akkotel, developed from a dilapidated 18 century building in acre s old city, is bringing the ancient port city back to life. This military leader aimed to dominate israel but his attempted conquest of the land, however, suffered a setback and he lost his cannons and guns. Israel, country in the middle east, located at the eastern end of the mediterranean sea. Historically, it wis a strategic coastal link tae the levant. Meet eliya mourany, an israeliarab catholic who at 58 when others start thinking about retiring has opened ancient acre s hottest new boutique hotel. As this book ends around 2008, there is much more about this history that needs to be written and im looking forward to an updated edition which goes into recent history of israel. A new york times notable book the moving, inspiring memoir of one of the great.
Visit citadel of acre on your trip to acre or israel. This brief conflict, which became known as the sixday war, resulted in major land gains for israel. The land of israel, also known as the holy land or palestine, is the birthplace of the jewish people, the place where the final form of the hebrew bible is thought to have been compiled, and the birthplace of judaism and christianity. The old city of akko is a unesco world heritage site and. Acre was captured by israel on may 17, 1948, displacing about threequarters of the arab population of the city,510 of 17,395. It is a lot of war, i know, but intermittent periods of war. Acre is a coastal city in northern israel situated on a promontory at the northern end of the bay of haifa, 14 mi. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. Akka, is a city in the coastal plain region of the northern district of israel the city occupies an important location, sitting in a natural harbour at the extremity of haifa bay on the coast of the mediterraneans levantine sea. Written by barry rubin, a leading historian of the middle east, the book is based around six major themes. Its like nowhere else, with spectacular sights, stirring history, and an intensely exotic aura. As the largest natural port in the galilee and israel, it has a long history of conquests and ruling empires.
In 2001, acre became israel s first unesco world heritage site. Other israel history books focus on location of holy sites and biblical events. Explore the dark corridors and huge vaulted ceilings of citadel of acre, an impressive stone structure overlooking acre harbor. You can explore the history and traditions of the jewish faith through israel history books. Acre or akko in arabic is located in the north district of israel, about twelve kilometers north from haifa. Acre, israel akko this wikipedia article, by the name of acre, is reffering to the israeli city of akko this city has been by the name akko since even before the days of the kingdom of israel i. Bloody sunset of the crusader states campaign 9781841768625. I cannot imagine another book that could be more detailed.
See more ideas about palestine, palestine history and palestine art. It was only the first or second theological book i ever read so nearly all the concepts and vocabulary were new to. Recognized by unesco as a world heritage site, visiting acre akko promises visitors an emotional journey to a glorious past and a oneofakind experience. Long known for its strategic location, the city has been invaded, and resettled throughout its history which officially started in 35003050 bc, however major part of the old city stayed almost untouched. During the israeli war of independence, acre surrendered after shelling by haganah troops on may 18, 1948. The city was first mentioned in the bible as part of the tribe of ashers inheritance, and then reappeared as ptolemais in the book of acts. Akko is a city that has been shaped by the romans, ottomans, crusaders, mamelukes, byzantines, and british, and fittingly is today home to a brilliantly coexistent mixed population of jews, christians and muslims. Israelpalestine history, middle eastern history, books. Israel history books server as a source of inspiration, information and celebration. The authoritative history of the war for the holy land.
The property features a sun terrace and views of the sea, and guests can enjoy a drink at the bar. Israel s mediterranean coast has been ruled by tens of empires throughout history who have created a fascinating mosaic of historic sites. This book is not written to put israel in a perfect light. This gives the city a feel to it that is especially unique amongst israel s coastal cities.
Acre was the seat of a prefecture under the administrative center in beirut when in september 1918, during world war i, the british occupied the city. Encyclopedia of jewish and israeli history, politics and culture, with biographies, statistics, articles and documents on topics from antisemitism to zionism. Today, the old city of acre is a unesco world heritage site, with a myriad of ruins representing the many civilisations that ruled the area over the centuries. An amazing introduction to israel, this book offers a definitive account of the nations past, its often controversial present, and much more. Unsurpassed for nearly half a century, and now with a new introduction and appendix by william p. Because acre, 22 kilometres north of haifa, had the best natural harbour on the coast of the holy land, it achieved importance from early times but its role as the main stronghold of the crusaders made the most lasting impression on its long and chequered history before the crusaders took acre in 1104, the city had been captured by egyptians, phoenicians, persians, greeks and muslims. In the biblical book of judges, akko appears in a list of the places which the israelites were not able to conquer from the canaanites. In this section i have decided to cover in addition to the israelipalestinian conflict, the three major wars that have helped shaped israel into the country it is today. Acre, israel project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Renown by many other names, such as acre and ptolemais, the city of akko. The old city of acre akko is a large walled city on the shores of the bay of haifa. Acre is ane o the auldest continuously inhabitit steids in the kintra. Akka, is a ceety in the wastren galilee region o northren israel at the northren extremity o haifa bay.
It was one of the main crusaders fortifications and ports. Akko is situated in the northern part of the coastal valley, also known as akko valley. Acre or akko is an ancient city in israel which has been almost continuously inhabited since at least 3000 bc, during the early bronze age. Boys jump into the water from the walls of the old port of acre. I have recently read a history of israel in old testament times by siegfried herrmann. Walking along the walls of the city, you also get a spectacular view of the sea and. Acre represents tumultuous the history of the land of israel possibly better than any other city in the country. Acre is a coastal city in northern israel situated on a promontory at the northern end of the.
798 1531 274 902 147 112 807 1158 251 673 774 145 742 976 1232 216 350 754 135 160 150 708 1256 689 515 490 1393 1562 1325 1598 1235 1183 67 1355 576 269 1077 1041 894 1397