Road Networks in Ottoman Syria (16th – 18th Century)

Abstract

Roads are as important as cities in the formation of an urban transportation network. There can be no city or urban center without being linked to a road system. By the same token, it is the city that provides this system with its continued existence. The interaction between cities and roads isa ongoing, just as the decline of conglomerations of people has an effect on the flourishing of roads – being distant from transportation routes is detrimental to cities. Within this context, the study looks at road networks in Ottoman Syria between the 16th and 18th century.