Beirut

Beirut بيروت‎ Beyrouth (French)
Beirut Location in Lebanon. The surrounding district can be seen on the map.
Coordinates: {{#invoke:Coordinates|coord}}{{#coordinates:33|53|13|N|35|30|47|E|type:city
	name= }}
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Beirut, Capital City
Government
- Mayor	Abdel Mounim Ariss
Area
- City	200 km² (31 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- City	1 700 000
- Density	12,500/km² (32,374.9/sq mi)
- Metro	+ 2 000 000
Time zone	+2 (UTC)
- Summer (DST)	+3 (UTC)
Website: City of Beirut

Beirut (Arabic: بيروت, Bayrūt, Greek: Βηρυττός Viryttós, French: Beyrouth, Syriac: ܒܝܪܘܬ) is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. The first mention of the city is found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters, dating to the 15th century B.C.E., and the city has been continuously inhabited over the centuries since.

Beirut holds Lebanon's seat of government, plays a central role in the Lebanese economy, and is renowned for its press, theaters and cultural activities. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut was reconstructed, and the redesigned historic city center, marina, pubs, and nightlife districts have made it a popular tourist attraction.

Geography

Pigeons' Rock (Raouché).

Beirut seen from SPOT satellite.

Located on a peninsula that extends west at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean sea, Beirut serves as the country's largest and main seaport and also forms the Beirut District area which comprises of the city and its suburbs. The city is flanked by the Lebanon mountains, it has taken on a triangular shape, largely influenced by its situation between and atop two hills: Al-Ashrafieh and Al-Musaytibah. Beirut's coast consists of rocky beaches, sandy shores, and cliffs are situated beside one another.

The Beirut Governorate area is of 6.9 square miles (18square kilometers), and the city's metropolitan area is of 26 square miles (67 square kilometers).

Beirut has a Mediterranean climate characterized by a hot and humid summer, pleasant fall and spring, and cool, rainy winter. August is the hottest month of the year with a monthly average high temperature of 85°F (29°C), and January and February are the coldest months with a monthly average low temperature of 50°F (10°C). During the afternoon and evening the prevailing wind direction is onshore, from the west, while at night the wind direction reverses to offshore, from the land.

Winter is the rainy season, with major precipitation falling after December. The average annual rainfall is 34.1 inches (860mm); the rainfall is concentrated during scattered days in winter falling in heavy cloudbursts.

Air pollution from car exhausts and private electricity generators, inadequate waste disposal, deforestation, and excessive removal of beach sand are among environmental problems facing Beirut.

History

Roman baths in downtown Beirut.

Nineteenth century view of Beirut with snow-capped Mount Sannine in the background.

File:Grand serail solidere 6.jpg

Nineteenth century view of Beirut's Grand Serail.

File:SolidereMasterPlan PROMO PDF.png

Solidere Masterplan.

Originally named Bêrūt, "The Wells", which refers to the underground water supply that is still used, by the Phoenicians, Beirut's history goes back more than 5000 years. Excavations in the downtown area have unearthed layers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman remains.

The first historical reference to Beirut dates from the 14th century B.C.E., when it is mentioned in the cuneiform tablets of the "Amarna letters." Ammunira of Biruta(Beirut) sent three letters to the pharaoh of Egypt. Biruta is also referenced in the letters from Rib-Hadda of Byblos. The most ancient settlement was on an island in the river that progressively silted up. The city was known in antiquity as Berytus. This name was taken in 1934 for the archaeological journal published by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut.

In 140 B.C.E., the city was taken and destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon in his contest with Antiochus VII Sidetes for the throne of the Seleucid monarchy. Beirut was soon rebuilt on a more regularized Hellenistic plan, renamed Laodicea in Phoenicia (Greek: Λαοδικεια ή του Φοινίκη) or Laodicea in Canaan, in honor of a Seleucid Laodice. The modern city overlies the ancient one and little archaeology had been accomplished until after the end of the civil war in 1991; now large sites in the devastated city center have been opened to archaeological exploration. A dig in 1994 established that one of Beirut's modern streets, Souk Tawile, still follows the lines of an ancient Hellenistic/Roman one.

Mid-first century coins of Berytus bear the head of Tyche, goddess of fortune; on the reverse, the city's symbol appears: a dolphin entwines an anchor. This symbol was taken up by the early printer Aldus Manutius in 15th century Venice.

Beirut was conquered by Agrippa in 64 B.C.E. and the city was renamed in honor of the emperor's daughter, Julia; its full name became Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berytus. The veterans of two Roman legions were established in the city: the fifth Macedonian and the third Gallic. The city quickly became Romanized. Large public buildings and monuments were erected and Berytus enjoyed full status as a part of the empire.

Under the Romans, it was enriched by the dynasty of Herod the Great (73 B.C.E.-4 B.C.E.), and was made a colonia, Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus, in 14 B.C.E., Beirut's school of law was widely known at the time. Two of Rome's most famous jurists, Papinian and Ulpian, both natives of Phoenicia, taught at the law school under the Severan emperors.

When Justinian (483-565) assembled his Pandects in the sixth century, a large part of the corpus of laws were derived from these two jurists, and Justinian recognized the school as one of the three official law schools of the empire (533). Within a few years, as the result of a disastrous earthquake (551), the students were transferred to Sidon. About 30,000 were killed in Berytus alone and, along the Phoenician coast, total casualties were close to 250,000.

Beirut passed to the Arabs in 635. As a trading centre of the eastern Mediterranean, Beirut was overshadowed by Akka during the Middle Ages.

From 1110 to 1291 it was in the hands of the Crusaders. No matter who was its nominal overlord, whether Turk or Mamluk, Beirut was ruled locally by Druze emirs.

One of these, Fakr ed-Din Maan II (1572-1635), fortified it early in the 17th century, but the Ottomans retook it in 1763 and thenceforth, with the help of Damascus, Beirut successfully broke Akka's monopoly on Syrian maritime trade and for a few years supplanted it as the main trading centre in the region.

During the succeeding epoch of rebellion against Ottoman hegemony at Akka under Jezzar (1720-1804) and Abdullah pashas, Beirut declined to a small town (population about 10,000), and was fought over among the Druze, the Turks and the pashas. After Ibrahim Pasha (1789–1848) captured Akka in 1832, Beirut began its early modern revival.

In 1888, Beirut was made capital of a vilayet in Syria, including the sanjaks Latakia, Tripoli, Beirut, Akka and Bekaa. Beirut became a very cosmopolitan city and had close links with Europe and the United States.

Beirut became a centre of missionary activity, which was generally very unsuccessful in conversions (a massacre of Christians in 1860 was the occasion for further European interventions), but did build an impressive education system. This included the Syrian Protestant College, which was established by American missionaries and eventually became the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Beirut became the centre of Arab intellectual activity in the 19th century. Provided with water from a British company and gas from a French one, the city thrived on exporting silk grown on nearby Mount Lebanon.

After French engineers established a modern harbor (1894) and a rail link across Lebanon to Damascus, and then to Aleppo (1907), much of the trade was carried by French ships to Marseille, and soon French influence in the area exceeded that of any other European power.

In 1911, the population mix was reported in the Encyclopædia Britannica as Muslims, 36,000; Christians, 77,000; Jews, 2500; Druze, 400; foreigners, 4100.

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, Beirut, along with all of Lebanon was placed under the French Mandate.

Lebanon achieved independence in 1943 and Beirut became its capital city. Beirut remained the intellectual capital of the Arab world and a major commercial and tourist center until 1975 when a brutal civil war broke out in Lebanon.

In response to an attack on an El Al jet in Athens, on the night of December 28, 1968, Israeli commandos mounted a surprise attack on the airport and destroyed 13 civilian aircraft belonging to the Lebanese carriers, Middle East Airlines.

During most of the war, the city was divided between the largely Muslim west part and the Christian east. The central area of the city, previously the focus of much of the commercial and cultural activities, became a no man's land. Many of the city's inhabitants fled to other countries. In 1983, French and US barracks were bombed, killing 302.

Since the end of the war in 1990, the people of Lebanon have been rebuilding Beirut, and by the start of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict the city had somewhat regained its status as a tourist, cultural, and intellectual center in the Middle East, as well as a center for commerce, fashion, and media. However, many would say the city has lost its premier status, due to competition from places like Dubai and Cyprus in the fields of tourism, business, fashion, commerce, and banking.

Reconstruction of downtown Beirut has been largely driven by Solidere, a development company established in 1994 by Rafik Hariri. Beirut is home to the international designer Elie Saab, jeweller Robert Moawad, and to some popular satellite television stations, such as LBC, Future TV, New TV and others. The city was host to the Asian Club Basketball Championship and the Asian Football Cup. Beirut also successfully hosted the Miss Europe pageant eight times, 1960-1964, 1999, 2001-2002.

The 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri near the Saint George Bay in Beirut shook the entire country. Approximately one million people gathered for an opposition rally in Beirut, a month after the death of Hariri. The "Cedar Revolution" was the largest rally in Lebanon's history. The last Syrian troops withdrew from Beirut on April 26, 2005.

Government

Facade of the Beirut City Hall

The Grand Serail

Lebanese House of Speakers

United Nations headquarters in Beirut.

The Lebanese Republic has a parliamentary democracy in which the highest offices are proportionately reserved for representatives from various religious communities to minimize sectarian conflict – a framework known as “confessionalism.” The chief of state is the president, who is elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. The head of government is the prime minister, who, with the deputy prime minister, is appointed by the president in consultation with the 128-seat National Assembly.

The capital Beirut is the seat of the Lebanese Parliament and of the government and encompasses all the Ministries, most of the public administrations, embassies and consulates.

The Beirut is one of six mohafazah (state governorates; mohafazat, singular), with the others being Beqaa, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, and Nabatiye.

Beirut is divided into 12 neighborhoods. These are: Ashrafieh, Beshoura, Dar el Mreyseh, Marfa’, Mazra’a, Mdawar, Mina El Hosson, Msaytbeh, Ras Beirut, Rmeil, Saifi, and Zkak El Blat.

Four of the 12 official Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are located in Beirut. These are: Burj el-Barajneh, Dbayeh, Mar Elias, and Shatila. Of the 15 unregistered or unofficial refugee camps, Sabra, which lies adjacent to Shatila, is located in Beirut.

The city is home to numerous international organizations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is headquartered in Downtown Beirut, while the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) both have regional offices in Beirut covering the Arab world. The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) is also headquartered in Beirut.

Economy

Inside the Beirut International Airport.

Beirut was the economic, social, intellectual, and cultural hub of the Arab Middle East from 1952 and 1975. Beirut became a banking centre for Arab wealth, and the port was a leading entrepôt for the region. Beirut had a busy tourist industry, and numerous uncensored newspapers kept the Arab world informed.

But the 1975-1990 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. The Israeli-Hizballah conflict in July-August 2006 caused an estimated $3.6-billion in infrastructure damage, and prompted international donors to pledge nearly $1-billion in recovery and reconstruction assistance.

Lebanon has a competitive and free market regime and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. Private property is common and encouraged, while the government owns most public services. Land laws resemble those in France and the United States. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. Beirut is the main center for the television, newspaper, and book publishing industries.

Dubbed “Paris of the East”, there is plenty of sightseeing, shopping, cuisine, and nightlife to keep a tourist within the city limits for the duration a visit to Lebanon. Lebanon's capital city has been described as a vibrant, stylish metropolis, with sleek, modern buildings alongside arabesque Ottoman and French-style buildings.

Before the war broke out in Lebanon, Travel and Leisure magazine's World Best Awards 2006 ranked Beirut as ninth best city in the world, falling just short of New York City and coming ahead of San Francisco.

Per capita GDP was $6681 in 2006, giving Lebanon a rank of 90 on a list of 181 countries. The unemployment rate was 20 percent in 2006.

The Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, which was opened in 1954, is located 5.6 miles (9km) from the city centre in the southern suburbs. It is the only operational commercial airport in the country, and is the hub for Lebanon's national carrier, Middle East Airlines. An ambitious 10-year reconstruction program is mostly complete and Beirut has a world-class facility which is ranked among the top airports in the Middle East. It is the main port of entry into the country along with the Port of Beirut.

Beirut has taxicabs, service taxis, and publicly owned buses. Beirut has bus connections to other cities in Lebanon and cities in Syria. A plan to modernize transport has been created.

Demographics

Mosque and Church in downtown Beirut.

The museum of the American University of Beirut.

There are wide-ranging estimates of Beirut's population, from as low as 938,940 people, to 1,303,129 people, to as high as 2,012,000. The lack of an exact figure is due to the fact that no population census has been taken in Lebanon since 1932.

Arabs make up 95 percent of the population, Armenians four percent, others one percent. Arabs only reached Lebanon in the seventh century, and their culture was superimposed on an already diverse ethnic population. Many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab, but rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be called Phoenicians.

Lebanon's official language is Arabic, but French, Armenian, and English are widely spoken. Many Lebanese speak a patois of some combination of these four languages, most commonly an Arabic-French mixture. Virtually all Lebanese are bilingual.

Beirut is one of the most religiously diverse cities of the Middle East, and the city has had a history of political strife due to religious division. The nine major religious sects there are (Sunni Muslim, Shiite Muslim, Druze, Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, and Protestant). Religious authorities handle marriage, divorce and inheritance. Calls for civil marriage have been rejected but civil marriages held in another country are recognized. Several decades ago, Beirut was also home to a Jewish community, in Wadi Abu Jamil neighbourhood.

The Lebanese University is the only public tertiary institution in Beirut. Beirut is home to some of the most well-renowned universities in the middle East, such as the American University of Beirut, Université Saint-Joseph, Haigazian University and the Lebanese American University.

Famous private schools include the International College, the American Community School, the Collège Protestant Français, the Collège Louise Wegman and the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais.

The higher education system is based on the Baccalauréat libanais but the Baccalauréat Français is accepted as an equivalent. Before being admitted to any higher education institution, one must achieve his or her Baccalauréat examinations. Baccalauréat technique is an alternative to credentials.

Of interest

File:Museum (1)'.jpg

The National Museum of Beirut.

Atmosphere is what Beirut delivers best. Its mix of peoples, religions and cultures gives the city a dynamic edge. There are hundreds of art galleries in Beirut and its suburbs. More than 5000 fine art artists and equal artists working in music, design, architecture, theatre, film, photography and all other forms of art are producing in Lebanon. Fashion houses are opening up and a number of international fashion designers have displayed their work there. Beirut is home to international fashion designers such as Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, and Georges Chakra.

The Beirut Nights are events that take place from time to time in Beirut, usually in the summer, often in the Beirut Central District, and attracting large numbers of people of different nationalities. These performances include classical music, dance, theatre, opera, jazz, and modern world music. Places of interest include:

• The Corniche, a long seaside promenade, which is a public gathering space with wonderful views of the coast.
• Pigeon Rocks, rock formations in a cove in Raouche.
• The Grand Serail, also known as the Government Palace, which is the headquarters of the Prime Minister of Lebanon. It is situated atop a hill in downtown Beirut a few blocks away from the Lebanese Parliament. An historic building, it is the most important of three Ottoman monuments on the hill — the other two are the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Hamidiyyeh clock tower.
• The St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and the St George Maronite Cathedral.
• The restored Roman Baths, and other downtown archaeological sites, which are being restored for public viewing.
• The National Museum, which is the principal museum of archaeology in Lebanon. About 1300 artifacts are exhibited, ranging in date from prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period. During the 1975 Lebanese Civil War, the museum stood on the front line that separated the warring factions.
• The smaller American University of Beirut Archaeology Museum, which is the third oldest museum in the Middle East, it exhibits a wide range of artifacts from Lebanon and neighboring countries
• The Sursock Museum, which was built by the Sursock family at the end of the 19th century as a private villa, occasionally displays antiquities, but its primary focus is on contemporary Lebanese art.
• Ashrafieh, where the Sursock Museum is located, is a neighbourhood with narrow, winding streets and some beautiful old residences.
• Hamra, south of the American University, is a good place to soak up the city's daily life.

Gallery

• 

  Downtown Beirut

• Place des Martyrs Statue silhouette.jpg

  Martyrs statue

• 

  Panorama over Beirut

• BeirutAlOmari.jpg

  Mohammad al-Amin Mosque

• 

  Raouché

• 

  Corniche Beirut

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  Beirut Sannine

• 

  Saifi village

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• El-Rayes, Nathalie Antoine. 1997. The role of the port of Beirut in the Lebanese economy: past performance and future development. Beirut: American University of Beirut. OCLC 43318041
• Hall, Linda Jones. 2004. Roman Berytus Beirut in late antiquity. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780203499078
• Jidejian, Nina. 1973. Beirut through the ages. Beirut: Dar el-Machreq [distribution: Librairie orientale. OCLC 1053364
• McPherson, Larry E. 2006. Beirut city center. Göttingen: Steidl. ISBN 9783865212184
• Prados, Alfred B. 2006. Lebanon. [Washington, D.C.]: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/IB89118.pdf. OCLC 65478911
• Salti, R., and G. Sholette. 2006. "Report from Beirut: Days of Culture, Days of Siege". Afterimage. 34 (1/2): 10-13. ISSN 0300-7472
• Talbert, Richard J. A., and Roger S. Bagnall. 2000. Barrington atlas of the Greek and Roman world. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691031699
• Ṭarābulsī, Fawwāz. 2007. A history of modern Lebanon. London: Pluto. ISBN 9780745324388
• The New York Times Under Beirut's Rubble, Remnants of 5000 Years of Civilization Retrieved July 24, 2008.
• Lebanese Embassy of the U.S. Profile of Lebanon: History Retrieved July 24, 2008.
• Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2008. Beirut Retrieved July 26, 2008.
• New Internationalist Milk, honey and muck Retrieved July 26, 2008.

External links

• Beirut's official website Beirut Retrieved July 26, 2008.
• World Fact Book Lebanon Retrieved July 26, 2008.

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