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Speaker Details

Prof

Nader   Srage

Lebanese university, Beirut - Lebanon


Lebanon


Presentation Abstract:

When published texts are the repository of urban history: "Daleel Bayrut, Taqweem Al Iqbaal li Sanat 1327 Hijriyyhah" (The Guide of Beirut, Al Iqbaal calendar for the year 1327 H) is the first detailed guide to be published in Beirut in 1910, by Al Iqbaal newspaper printing press. It was not the first one, for in 1889, Amin Khuri had published "Kitabul Jamiaa aw Daleel Bayrut" (The Book of the University or The Guide of Beirut) through Al Matbaah Al Adabiyyah in Beirut and in 1908, Amin Abdel Aal and Abdo Abdel Nur published "Daleel Surya wa Masr At Tijari" (The Commercial Directory for Syria and Egypt) which contained a short chapter of 25 pages dedicated to Beirut. "Taqweem Al Iqbaal" was prepared by Abdul Basset Afandi Al Unsi, owner of Al Iqbaal newspaper (founded by his father, Saleem Al Unsi in the year 1308 H.) and Al Maktabah Al Unsiah (a bookshop and publishing house). This is the first publication to record the "urbanization of Beirut and expansion of trade following the generally agreed upon norms". The guide includes a calendar for the year 1327 H., a detailed directory of places, people, trades, events and occasions, etc. The idea of preparing such a guide came to the author in the early days of the Constitution and the declaration of the Basic Law (1908). The objectives of the guide were to "facilitate the connection of means and businesses and bring closer communication with remote countries, so each citizen can be informed of the situation in his country and of the names of his fellow citizens". This is to say that the author wanted to provide the diverse information he compiled and classified to his fellow countrymen to benefit them and facilitate communication among them. Other objectives included the adoption of the guide as a "light for strangers to help them and spare them asking around, in short, it is a guide for each person to his wants". The subject of the intervention: I suggest a contemporary reading, in Arabic, shedding light on the importance of the publication of such guide in the first decade of the 20th century with limited printing abilities.


Status: Confirmed