Gaza is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city is strategically situated between two continents, Asia and Africa. This geographical location made the city acquire a strategic and extraordinary military status; it is the southern front defense line not only of Palestine but of all Sham area(Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan) as well. It is also, the east northern advanced defense line of the Egyptian depth. Consequently, the city had been a battle field for most of the ancient and recent empires, the Pharaonic, the Assyrian, the Persian, the Greek, the Roman, the Crusades, and during the First World War.
Situated at the climate division line and the latitude 31.3 degree north to the Equator. Gaza has occupied a dividing position between the desert in the south and the Mediterranean climate in the north. This location, as such, had made the city acquire the role of a prosperous trading market for world products, both tropical, and cold. This importance was reinforced by its distinguished position on a hill, 45m above sea level and within a range of 3 Km. away from the sea. The Area of ancient Gaza was about 1 Km. square, it was situated over hill and surrounded by a large wall with four gates in the four directions.
The Sea Gate (Memas) in the west, Asklan Gate in the north, Hebron Gate in the east and El-Daroom in the south.
The names given to the these gates were changing in accordance with the changing consecutive empires. Those gates used to be closed at sunset, therefore the city inaccessible fortitude against the enemy.
Due to all these powerful factors, our ancestors, the Arab Cana'nites established the city and called it Gaza around the year 3000 BC. The Arab Minions who resided in Gaza, gave it the same name. They helped in reviving the city and had strong ties with Gaza citizens as Ma'an merchants were married to Gazans. The Pharaohs, during the reign of the Pharaoh III, 1447-1501 BC., gave it the name Gazatwa which is related to the treasures said to be buried by Cambayses during the Persian rule.
The name Gaza remained immortal without any change and the Arab associated it with Hashem, the name of Prophet Mohammad's granfather, (peace be upon him) to become Gazat Hashem. Hashem Ben Abed Manaf died in the city during one of his trading journeys round the end of 6th century.
It is not strange however, that the city was described as the Kings Tunnel and the Gate between Africa and Asia by Napoleon Bonaparte
Gaza city is well known for many of its lite industries, some of which depend mainly on agricultural products such as olive-oil processing, and soap production, which depends in turn on olive oil as a major ingredient. Pottery, on the other hand, is considered one of the oldest Palestinian industries especially popular in Gaza, and so are weaving, embroidery, knitting, the production of traditional cattle-wool rugs, and the construction of bamboo furniture and the artistic glass coloring.
Gaza City played an important role as a port and a trade base but it lost its importance by the end of the Ottoman period. It is important to mention here, that, in 1905, Gaza exported amounts of wheat, barley, corn, dates, sesame, leather and chicken worth US$ 1.5 millions through its port. Different kinds of goods were also imported through the port. In the same year (1905), the value of the imports reached US$ 750,000 and thus Gaza achieved a balance of trade in its favor. It seems that the ports of Jaffa and Haifa negatively affected Gaza port and this resulted in gradual economic recession. After the Israeli occupation, Gaza port completely lost its role - it has not been functioning until present. The residents of Gaza were interested in trade markets, so they established markets and stores to display their goods. The most important of these is the Al-Qaisaria Market, which still exists as a witness of history. The market is located in the Daraj Quarter. |
