Taras Y. Kobishchanov

A report on international academic discussions of the medieval and early modern Middle East.

The article is devoted to the study of the religious communities of Jerusalem — Christians and Jews — in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, against the background of the Napoleonic expedition to the Middle East. Jerusalem, despite its relatively small population (about 12,000 people) and limited political importance in the Ottoman Empire, had a special status as a holy city of three world religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Christians and Jews in Jerusalem formed significant communities closely linked to the life of the Muslim majority, which created a complex system of religious symbiosis. During the years of the French invasion of the Middle East (1798–1801), the attitude of local authorities towards minorities was characterized by wariness and variability, including arrests, searches and the temporary detention of a large number of Christians in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Jewish community showed demonstrative loyalty to the Ottoman government and even helped to strengthen the defenses. Napoleon considered taking Jerusalem, hoping to gain the support of local Christians. However, due to tactical reasons, the capture did not take place, and the city maintained the status quo. The expedition exacerbated confessional contradictions, intensified the struggle for Holy Places and laid the foundations for further escalation of tension in interreligious relations. The Ottoman authorities sought to maintain control by charging large taxes and bribes from religious communities, while maintaining relative stability and preventing internal conflicts. The article reflects the complex balance of interests between various Christian denominations, the Jewish community and the Muslim authorities, as well as the reaction of Jerusalem residents to foreign military intervention in the lands of Palestine.