Archnet > Authority > Beirut

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General view over rooftops to the waterfront.

Beirut, general view with Mt. Lebanon in background. "Beyrouth et le Liban (Syrie)"

Distant overview of the city, from the northeast

Distant overview of the city, from the southeast

Panoramic view from north to south taken from the St. Louis clock tower, with Beirut's harbor and wheat silos seen on the left and the tall buildings of the Ashrafieh neighborhood on the right. The Kesrouan and Metn mountains are seen in the background

Panoramic view from north to south taken from the St. Louis clock tower, with the Souks Project seen on the left and the tall buildings of the Ashrafieh neighborhood on the right. The Kesrouan and Metn mountains are seen in the background, dotted with villages

Panoramic view from west to east showing Serail Hill and the Murr Tower on the left and the new waterfront of Beirut Downtown District and harbor on the right

View of the new waterfront of Beirut Downtown District with, high end commercial and residential buildings overlooking the seaside park

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is also the largest city in the country. Located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean at the foot of the Lebanon Mountains, it is also one of the oldest cities in the region, having been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. Beirut is mentioned in Egyptian records dated back to the 2nd millennium BCE, but it first rose to prominence as a Roman colony in the 14th c. BCE, with the original city built between the hills of al-Ashrafiyyah and al-Muṣayṭibah. This city was largely destroyed by the earthquake and tidal wave that occurred in the region in 551 CE. By the time the Muslims occupied Beirut in 635/14 AH, they essentially needed to build it anew.

Initially, it was a small garrison town, but the rise of maritime trade in the 10th c. revived its fortunes under Fatimid rule. In 1110/504 AH it was conquered by Crusaders, then by Saladin 70 years later, only to be lost after his death a decade after that. In 1291 the Mamluks drove out the Crusaders for the last time. The Ottomans conquered Syria, including Lebanon, in the early 16th c. Beirut began developing close commercial ties with Europe in the 19th c.

For a modern history of Beirut, starting with this period, see:

Khodr, Ali. “Planning a Sectarian Topography: Revisiting Michel Ecochard's Master Plans for Beirut between 1941-1964,” 2017.

See, also, the 1940s and 1963 urban plans in the Archive of Michel Ecochard.

St. Elias Greek Melkite Catholic Cathedral

Beirut, Lebanon

Plan Directeur de Beyrouth et de sa Banlieue

Beirut, Lebanon

Reconstruction of Waad Area

Beirut, Lebanon

Aménagement de la ville de Beyrouth

Beirut, Lebanon

950 Hamra Street Center

Beirut, Lebanon

Rehabilitation of Ten Schools

Beirut, Lebanon

AUB IOEC Engineering Lab

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Souk

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Exhibition Centre

Beirut, Lebanon

Achrafieh 732

Beirut, Lebanon

The Reconstruction of Beirut: A Dialogue Across Borders

magazine article

Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in the Traditional Bourgeoisie Houses in Beirut

journal article

Evolution of Floor Construction System in Beirut (1840-1940)

journal article

Aux sources de la modernité de Beyrouth: 1860-1940

journal article

The Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut, 1840-1940

Renewal of Central Beirut: The BCD Master Plan and the Shaping of Architectural Form

Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown Beirut

Weaving Historical Narratives: Beirut’s Last Mamluk Monument

journal article

A Letter from Beirut

The Role of the Design Studio in Shaping an Architectural Education for Sustainable Development: The Case of Beirut Arab University

journal article

Beirut: Built Heritage of Lebanon Survey

City Records

Original

Alternate transliteration

635 CE/14-15 AH [Conquered by Muslim Armies]

Lebanon

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is also the largest city in the country. Located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean at the foot of the Lebanon Mountains, it is also one of the oldest cities in the region, having been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. Beirut is mentioned in Egyptian records dated back to the 2nd millennium BCE, but it first rose to prominence as a Roman colony in the 14th c. BCE, with the original city built between the hills of al-Ashrafiyyah and al-Muṣayṭibah. This city was largely destroyed by the earthquake and tidal wave that occurred in the region in 551 CE. By the time the Muslims occupied Beirut in 635/14 AH, they essentially needed to build it anew.

Initially, it was a small garrison town, but the rise of maritime trade in the 10th c. revived its fortunes under Fatimid rule. In 1110/504 AH it was conquered by Crusaders, then by Saladin 70 years later, only to be lost after his death a decade after that. In 1291 the Mamluks drove out the Crusaders for the last time. The Ottomans conquered Syria, including Lebanon, in the early 16th c. Beirut began developing close commercial ties with Europe in the 19th c.

For a modern history of Beirut, starting with this period, see:

Khodr, Ali. “Planning a Sectarian Topography: Revisiting Michel Ecochard's Master Plans for Beirut between 1941-1964,” 2017.

See, also, the 1940s and 1963 urban plans in the Archive of Michel Ecochard.

St. Elias Greek Melkite Catholic Cathedral

Beirut, Lebanon

Plan Directeur de Beyrouth et de sa Banlieue

Beirut, Lebanon

Reconstruction of Waad Area

Beirut, Lebanon

Aménagement de la ville de Beyrouth

Beirut, Lebanon

950 Hamra Street Center

Beirut, Lebanon

Rehabilitation of Ten Schools

Beirut, Lebanon

AUB IOEC Engineering Lab

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Souk

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Exhibition Centre

Beirut, Lebanon

The Reconstruction of Beirut: A Dialogue Across Borders

magazine article

Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in the Traditional Bourgeoisie Houses in Beirut

journal article

Evolution of Floor Construction System in Beirut (1840-1940)

journal article

Aux sources de la modernité de Beyrouth: 1860-1940

journal article

The Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut, 1840-1940

Renewal of Central Beirut: The BCD Master Plan and the Shaping of Architectural Form

Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown Beirut

Weaving Historical Narratives: Beirut’s Last Mamluk Monument

journal article

A Letter from Beirut

digital graphic

General view

35 mm color slide

General view over rooftops to the waterfront.

Beirut, general view with Mt. Lebanon in background. "Beyrouth et le Liban (Syrie)"

Distant overview of the city, from the northeast

35 mm color slide

Distant overview of the city, from the southeast

35 mm color slide

Panoramic view from north to south taken from the St. Louis clock tower, with Beirut's harbor and wheat silos seen on the left and the tall buildings of the Ashrafieh neighborhood on the right. The Kesrouan and Metn mountains are seen in the background

digital photograph

Panoramic view from north to south taken from the St. Louis clock tower, with the Souks Project seen on the left and the tall buildings of the Ashrafieh neighborhood on the right. The Kesrouan and Metn mountains are seen in the background, dotted with villages

digital photograph

Panoramic view from west to east showing Serail Hill and the Murr Tower on the left and the new waterfront of Beirut Downtown District and harbor on the right

digital photograph

Beirut: Built Heritage of Lebanon Survey

City Records

Original

Alternate transliteration