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by Rabbi Joseph Schwarz
Introduction.
As in the geographical reference to Palestine, we have been
compelled to be content with mere traces, the same will be the case in our
historical account of this country. There are nowhere to be met with regular
documents in respect to its history, states, and towns; the past seems to have
been entirely forgotten; so that the whole country cared, so to say, only for
the present, and took no cognizance of what had preceded or was to follow. It is
true that some few Arabic historians have written something concerning
Palestine, such as Abulfeda and Serif ibn Idrus; but their works have almost
entirely disappeared, as was to be supposed would be the case under a government
which had not and suffered not a free press. It was only with the greatest
trouble that I could obtain here and there an historical document, and I
extracted therefrom only what interested me, that is, what has
reference to the Israelitish people, but not the general and to us indifferent
accounts and narratives. Reports referring to modern times, I obtained
occasionally by way of tradition. Therefore it cannot excite surprise that the
historical portion of my book should be so brief and simple.
I divide the same into four periods:
Period I. From the destruction of the temple under
Titus, in the year 3828 [A.M.] (68 [C.E.]), till the time of the conquest of
Palestine by the Mahomedans in the year 4374 (614), consequently a period of 546
years.
Period II. From 4374 to the conquest of the country
by the Christian Crusaders in the year 4859 (1099), an interval of 485 years.
Period III. From the year 4859 to the reign of
Sultan Seliman the Great, in the year 5280 (1520), an interval of 421 years.
Period IV. From 5280 (1520) to the present [when
this book was written] year 5606 (1845), an interval of 325 years.
A Short Review of the Different Governments in Palestine in
the Above Periods.
In the year 3828, at the time of the destruction of
Jerusalem, Palestine was under the dominion of the Romans.
In the year 4092 (332), under Emperor Constantine, the
Greek — Romano-Greek
Empire.
In the year 4374 (614), under King Kusarai (Chosroes?) for
a brief space, Persian, but later, again under the government of the Greeks.
In the year 4397 (637) under Calif Omar, Arab or Mahomedan.
In the year 4502 (742), it was for a short time under the
dominion of the Turks or Tartars, but at a later period again under the Arabs.
In the year 4628 (868), under the Califs of Egypt.
In the year 4800 (1040), again under the Turks or Tartars.
In the year 4859 (1099), under the European Christians.
In the year 4947 (1187), under Saladin, Calif of Egypt.
In the year 5004 (1244), under Casiunus, i.e. under Turks
or Tartars.
In the year 5051 (1291), under Sultan Asa of Egypt, under
Mameluks.
In the year 5161 (1401), under Timurlan [Tamerlane], for a
short time, i.e. under Mongols, than again under the Mameluks.
In the year 5278 (1518), under Selim of Constantinople,
under Ottomans.
In the year 5591 (1831), under Mahmud Ali, Pacha of Egypt.
In the year 5600 (1840), under Abd al Medjid, Ottoman.
Here would well apply the passage from Judges 9:2: “What
is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubaal, should rule over
you, or that one man should be your master?”
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