1517 CE - 1917 CE: Four Centuries of Peace and Unity
In 1517, Sultan Selim I incorporated the region into the Ottoman Empire after defeating the Mamluks. This began a long period of prosperity where the land was organized into administrative districts (Sanjaks) under the authority of Istanbul.
One of the greatest Ottoman Sultans, he ordered the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem between 1537 and 1541. These iconic stone walls, along with the magnificent Damascus Gate, remain the city's most recognizable features today.
Under the Ottoman Millet System, diverse communities - Arabs, Christians, and Jews - enjoyed significant autonomy. They were allowed to manage their own religious and legal affairs, leading to a unique social harmony that lasted for centuries.
The Ottomans developed Jaffa and Gaza as major international ports and later built the Hijaz Railway to connect the region to the wider Islamic world.
In the 19th century, modern reforms modernized education, law, and land ownership, preparing the region for the modern era.
The Ottoman rule came to an end during World War I (1917), when British forces took control. Despite the political changes that followed, the Ottoman legacy remains deeply embedded in the region's architecture, legal traditions, and family histories.