In an Ottoman Holy Land: The Hajj and the Road from Damascus, 1500–1800

This study reveals that Damascus, rather than traditional holy sites like Mecca or Jerusalem, became the pivotal gateway for the Ottoman hajj between 1500 and 1800. The research argues that the Ottoman Empire's conquest of Damascus in 1516 transformed it into a logistical hub for pilgrimage, integrating the hajj into a broader 'Ottoman holy land' that included Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. This shift was driven by the empire's infrastructure investments, which facilitated both Muslim and non-Muslim pilgrimages, blurring religious boundaries. The study challenges the notion of static premodern religious practices, demonstrating how mobility and material culture shaped lived religion. It also critiques the assumption that increased circulation inevitably homogenizes devotional practices, instead highlighting the persistence of saint worship alongside the rise of an 'Ottoman' hajj culture.

Shafir, N. (2020). In an Ottoman Holy Land: The Hajj and the Road from Damascus, 1500–1800. History of Religions, 60(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1086/709169