The History of Tulkarm: An Overview of Palestine's Ancient City
Tulkarm is an ancient city in the West Bank of Palestine, located just 15 miles west of Nablus. It has a long and storied history, having been inhabited since the Bronze Age and having been conquered by various empires over the centuries. Today, it is the administrative center of the Tulkarm Governorate and is home to a population of around 50,000 people.
The earliest known inhabitants of Tulkarm were the Canaanites, who settled the area around 2000 BCE. The area was then conquered by the Assyrians in the 8th century BCE, and then by the Babylonians in the 6th century BCE. It was during this period that the city was first fortified, and it was also during this period that the city's first temple was built.
In the 4th century BCE, Tulkarm was conquered by the Greeks, who brought with them the worship of the Greek gods. It was also during this period that the city was given its current name, which means “city of the olive tree” in Aramaic.
The Romans conquered the city in the 1st century BCE and made it part of the province of Syria Palaestina. During this period, the city was a center of trade and commerce, and it also became an important center of Christian worship.
In the 7th century CE, Tulkarm was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate, and it remained under Muslim rule until the Crusader conquest in the 11th century. The Crusaders built a castle in the city, but it was destroyed by the Mamluks in 1291.
In 1517, Tulkarm came under the control of the Ottoman Empire, and it remained under Ottoman rule until the British Mandate of Palestine in 1922. During this period, the city was a major center of trade, and it was also an important center of Jewish learning.
After the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, Tulkarm was annexed by Jordan. It remained under Jordanian control until 1967, when it was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War. Today, Tulkarm is part of the Palestinian Authority and is home to a large Palestinian population.
Tulkarm is a city with a long and fascinating history. It has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and it has been conquered by various empires over the centuries. Today, it is home to a population of around 50,000 people and is an important administrative center in the West Bank.