Jerusalem

Led by General Allenby, British troops entered Jerusalem in December 1917, thereby ending Ottoman rule and opening a new and important era in the history of Jerusalem. This historical moment has often been described as the beginning of a period of great change and transformation, depicting the British as the real modernisers of Jerusalem. In this study, Mazza does not offer just another history of Jerusalem. He focuses on the often neglected transition from Ottoman rule to British administration, examining the impact of the First World War and considering the socio-political changes which occurred as a result of the transition. He also considers the impact of these changes on the local population and how they, in turn, could act as agents of change in this formative period. He discusses the role of the British in Jerusalem as well as reactions to the occupation in Britain. Through the extensive use of case studies and unpublished archival material from Spain and Vatican archives, Mazza takes a fresh approach to this period of Jerusalem's history; focusing on a previously overlooked area and opening the field to new perspectives and research.