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As-Salt
As an ancient town, AS-Salt was one of the most important settlements in the area between the Jordan Valley and the eastern desert. Because of its history as an important trading link between the eastern desert and the west, it was a significant place for the region’s many rulers. The Romans, Byzantines and Mamlukes all contributed to the growth of the town but it was at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, during Ottoman rule, that As-Sald enjoyed its most prosperous period.
The Ottomans established a regional administrative base in As-Salt and encouraged settlement from other parts of their empire. This capital of the Belqua’a region has attracted settlers since before the Iron Age, mainly dure to the fact that the area enjoys a moderate climate, a plentiful supply of water and fertile soil. The town was well placed on the north to south trade routes and those running from east to west, linking the interior with Jerusalem, Nablus, Nazareth and the Mediterranean. Evidence of the Roman empire can still be seen. The 13th century Byzantines built an Ayyubid fortress on the site of the citadel by Sultan Al Mu’azzam Isa. It was destroyed by the invading Mongols in 1260 and rebuilt a year later. In 1840 the forces of Egyptian Ibrahim Pasha demolished it again. It is now the site of a large mosque, which towers over the modern town. The town’s fortunes and status declined after WWI when Amman was chosen as the capital city.
Historical Sites
- As-Salt Archaeological Museum
- As-Salt Forklore Museum
- Salt Historical Museum (Abu Jaber House)
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