Empire 296. Ottoman Gaza: Gunpowder Conquests & Rising Nationalism (Part 6)
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Oct 5, 2025 Eugene Rogan, a Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at Oxford and author of The Fall of the Ottomans, dives into the Ottoman era in Gaza. He details the strategic significance of Gaza during Ottoman conquests and the harsh punishments for rebellion. The fascinating growth of the citrus and cotton industries is explored, along with the rise of nationalism in the 19th century. Rogan also discusses the evolution of local identities and the impacts of early Zionism on Palestinian society. Historical tensions and emerging identities paint a vivid picture of this complex region.
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Gunpowder Changed The Balance Of Power
- Selim I used gunpowder tactics to decisively defeat the Mamluks and transform regional power structures.
- Gaza rose against the Ottomans and was brutally suppressed with scorched-earth reprisals that devastated its population.
Palestine Was Provincialized Under Ottomans
- The Ottomans reorganized former Mamluk lands into provinces centered on Damascus or Sidon rather than a distinct Palestine.
- Gaza and other market towns became administrative units within larger Ottoman provincial structures.
Communal Autonomy Under Ottoman Rule
- Ottoman society featured Muslim majorities with sizable Jewish and Christian communities who retained communal autonomy.
- Minorities were protected as dhimmis and integrated into local economic and social life, though with second-class status.
