1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910818631203321

Autore

Zachs Fruma

Titolo

The making of a Syrian identity : intellectuals and merchants in nineteenth century Beirut / / Fruma Zachs

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Leiden ; ; Boston, MA, : Brill, 2005

ISBN

1-280-86736-1

9786610867363

90-474-0667-2

1-4337-0669-5

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (295 p.)

Collana

Social, Economic and Political Studies of the Middle East and Asia ; ; 98

Disciplina

305.892/75691056925/09034

Soggetti

Syrians - Lebanon - Beirut

National characteristics, Syrian

Beirut (Lebanon) Intellectual life 19th century

Beirut (Lebanon) History 19th century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. [253]-264) and index.

Nota di contenuto

List of Illustrations; Preface; Note on Transliteration; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; Chapter One. First Notions of a ""Syrian Vision"": The Period of Amir Bashir II; Chapter Two. Beirut and the Emergence of a ""Syrian Identity"": Christian Arabs as Agents of Change; Chapter Three. Re-enforcing an Identity: The Tan*imat Reforms; Chapter Four. Revisiting the American Presbyterian Missionaries in Nineteenth Century Syria; Chapter Five. Narrating an Identity: New Genres, New Identity (1858-1881); Epilogue

Appendix I: Biographies of Leading Families and Individuals from the Syrian Middle StratumAppendix II: The Various Meanings and Definitions of the Name ""Syria""; Bibliography; Index

Sommario/riassunto

Exploring the origins and development of the Syrian identity, during the 18th and 19th centuries, through the role of Christian Arab intellectuals and merchants, Ottomans and American missionaries, this volume examines its background, stages of evolution, and components. It shows that the contribution of these Christian Arabs, despite their relatively small number, lies in the processes they set in



motion, being the first to promote territorial concepts along with a secular interpretation of Arab culture. This Syrian identity constitutes an innovative case study in the broader discipline of proto-national identity and the study of the development of local identities in Middle Eastern countries. It is also a vital basis for research of 20th century Syrian nationalism.