The Historiography of Lebanese Cities

Abstract

This study explores the historiography of Lebanese cities, highlighting the ideological frameworks that have shaped scholarly approaches. One current emphasizes the Phoenician heritage of Lebanon’s coastal cities to assert a distinct Lebanese identity, while another adopts a pan-Arab perspective, underscoring the formative role of Arab-Islamic periods in constructing urban identities. The study also examines the influence of archaeological discoveries and, more significantly, documentary sources—particularly the sijillāt of the maḥākim sharʿiyya (Islamic court registers)—on the development of historical research. In addition, it engages with sociological and anthropological studies, especially those focused on Beirut.