Repenser la périphérie : Ma‘ān, carrefour du sud du Bilād al-Shām au tournant de la Première Guerre mondiale

Abstract

At the turn of the 20th century, Ma‘ān was still a major commercial crossroads located on the pilgrimage trail (from Syria) to Mecca. This town on the edge of the desert and the Hedjaz was a center of regional mobility which increased when the Hedjaz railroad was built in 1904. This is reflected in the social organization of the town, similar to that of the oases of the Arabian Peninsula. During World War I, Ma‘ān’s location made it a stronghold of great importance for the Ottoman army. Until the end of the conflict the city remained a central node allowing the Ottomans to control regional circulations and to counter the advance of British troops and of the Arab Revolt.

Keywords

• trade
• crossroads
• pilgrimage
• in-between
• strategic stronghold
• World War I