Beirut history

Beirut is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. Located at the crossroads of civilizations, it has witnessed numerous eras and rulers, each leaving their mark on its unique appearance.

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of the city is rooted in deep antiquity, with the first settlements on its territory dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. The name presumably comes from the ancient Semitic word "be'rot," meaning "wells." Here are the key moments of its early history:

• First Written Mention: The city, under the name "Barut" or "Biruta," first appears in cuneiform tablets from the Egyptian Amarna archives, dating back to the 15th–14th centuries BC.
• Phoenician Period: Initially, Beirut was one of the Phoenician city-states known for their maritime trade. It served as an important port for the export of local goods, including wine.

Key Factors of Formation

Beirut owes its growth and influence to several strategic advantages that determined its destiny for centuries to come.

• Geographical Location: The city was founded on a rocky promontory jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, creating a natural and well-protected port — an ideal place for maritime trade.
• Trade Routes: For centuries, Beirut has been a vital trading hub on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, linking the East and the West.
• Roman Influence: In the 1st century BC, the city became a Roman military colony named Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berytus. This status granted it significant privileges, including exemption from imperial taxes, which contributed to its prosperity.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Even in antiquity, Beirut was renowned not only as a commercial hub but also as an intellectual centre of the region.

• School of Law: The city gained its greatest fame in the Roman Empire thanks to its celebrated School of Law, founded in the early 3rd century AD. It became one of the main centres of jurisprudence in the entire empire.
• Code of Justinian: It was the professors and graduates of the Beirut school who played a key role in developing the Code of Justinian — the fundamental body of laws that formed the basis of the European legal system.
• Crafts and Production: Besides trade, in the Byzantine era, the city was known for silk production, which also contributed to its economic well-being.

Chronology of Beirut's History

Beirut, one of the world's oldest cities, possesses a rich and multi-layered history marked by the succession of great civilizations and periods of flourishing and destruction. Here are the key milestones of its historical journey.

• Approx. 3000 BC — Emergence of the first settlements on the territory of modern Beirut, founded by the Phoenicians.
• 15th Century BC — The city, named "Biruta," is mentioned for the first time in Egyptian cuneiform tablets from the Amarna archives.
• 140 BC — The city is destroyed during the struggle for the Seleucid throne and soon rebuilt under the Hellenistic name Laodicea in Phoenicia.
• 64 BC — Beirut is conquered by the Roman Empire and, under the name Berytus, becomes an important Roman colony.
• Early 3rd Century AD — The famous School of Law is founded, one of the most significant in the Roman Empire, where the foundations of the Code of Justinian were laid.
• 551 AD — A powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami destroy the city, including the School of Law.
• 635 AD — The city is conquered by the Arabs and becomes part of the Rashidun Caliphate.
• 1110 — Beirut is captured by the Crusaders and becomes part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• 1291 — The Mamluks retake the city from the Crusaders, ending the period of their rule.
• 1516 — Beirut becomes part of the Ottoman Empire along with all of Syria and remains under its rule for 400 years.
• 1888 — The city becomes the capital of the separate Beirut Vilayet within the Ottoman Empire, highlighting its growing economic importance.
• 1920 — After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Beirut becomes the capital of the mandate territory of Greater Lebanon under French administration.
• November 22, 1943 — Lebanon declares independence, and Beirut becomes the capital of the sovereign Lebanese Republic.

Major Development Milestones

The city's development proceeded through a series of powerful transformations that turned it from an ancient harbour into a modern metropolis. Here are the key stages that defined the economic and cultural appearance of Beirut:

• Intellectual Centre of the Empire (3rd Century AD) — The opening of the famous law school and obtaining the status of a Roman colony changed the city's profile. From a simple trading port, it turned into the main educational and legal centre of the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Transport Revolution (1863–1888) — The construction of the highway to Damascus and the massive modernization of the sea port radically restructured the economy. This made the city the main trading gateway of the Levant, allowing it to overtake Sidon and Tripoli in importance.
• Capital Urbanization (1920–1943) — Obtaining the status of the capital of the mandate territory, and then of independent Lebanon, entailed the implementation of European urban planning standards. Wide avenues, Place de l'Etoile, and new quarters appeared, forming the structure of the city centre.
• Financial Boom (1956) — The adoption of the banking secrecy law became a turning point in the economy. The city began to develop rapidly as the "Bank of the Arab World," sparking a boom in the construction of high-rise hotels and office buildings in the Hamra district.
• Cultural Flourishing (1960s) — During this period, the city cemented its status as a centre of free press and publishing in the Middle East. The concentration of intellectuals and artists created a unique cosmopolitan atmosphere that attracted tourists from all over the world.
• Solidere Project (1994) — A global reconstruction programme for the central district (Downtown) after the civil war. The project completely changed the urban landscape, restoring historical facades and integrating them with modern elite infrastructure.
• Rise of Creative Clusters (2010s) — The transformation of the Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze districts into centres of design, art, and gastronomy. This secured the city's reputation as the region's main creative laboratory, where old artisan quarters found new life.

Beirut's architectural appearance is a unique canvas upon which numerous eras and cultures have left their imprints. The city presents an eclectic combination of Ottoman heritage, French colonial chic, "Golden Age" modernism, and ultra-modern structures, making it a true open-air museum.

Ottoman Era and Traditional Lebanese Architecture

During the Ottoman Empire period (1516–1918), a characteristic architectural style formed in Beirut. Typical features included houses with a central hall surrounded by rooms, red tiled roofs, and, most recognizably, triple-arched windows, which became the hallmark of Lebanese architecture. Many buildings were constructed from sandstone and limestone. This style can still be found in the old districts of the city, despite active modern development.

French Mandate Period (1920–1943)

With the arrival of the French authorities, Beirut's architecture was enriched with European styles, primarily Art Deco and colonial styles. During this time, the city earned the nickname "Paris of the Middle East." Elegant mansions and apartment buildings combined French charm with local traditions. Districts such as Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael still retain the charm of that era with their cozy streets, buildings with wrought-iron balconies, and high ceilings. One of the iconic architects of that time was Youssef Aftimus, who designed, for example, the Municipality building.

Modernism of the "Golden Age" (1950–1970s)

After gaining independence and up until the beginning of the civil war, Beirut experienced an economic boom, which was reflected in its architecture. This period was marked by the flourishing of modernism. Architects, both local and invited from abroad, experimented with concrete, glass, and clean lines, adapting the international style to the Mediterranean climate using terraces, canopies, and shutters. Iconic examples of this period include the former cinema "The Egg" and the Holiday Inn hotel, damaged during the war, which has become a peculiar monument to that era.

Post-War Reconstruction and Modernity

After the end of the civil war in 1990, a massive reconstruction of the city centre, known as Downtown, began. The project aimed to restore historical buildings while simultaneously creating modern business and tourism infrastructure. Today, restored Ottoman buildings and churches stand alongside futuristic skyscrapers by world-renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid (Issam Fares Institute) and Herzog & de Meuron (Beirut Terraces). This new architecture reflects the resilience and dynamic development of modern Beirut.

Distinguished Figures Associated with Beirut

Throughout its centuries-old history, Beirut has been a cradle and home to many talented and influential people who have left a mark on world culture, science, and politics. The city continues to be a centre of attraction for creative and outstanding personalities today.

• Papinian (Aemilius Papinianus, approx. 150–212 AD) — A distinguished Roman jurist. Although he was from Syria, his work is closely linked to the famous School of Law in Berytus (ancient Beirut), which was one of the main centres of jurisprudence in the Roman Empire. The works of Papinian and other professors of the school formed the basis of the Code of Justinian, the foundation of the European legal system.
• Gibran Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) — A world-renowned Lebanese-American philosopher, poet, artist, and writer. Although born in the mountain village of Bsharri, it was in Beirut that he received the education that greatly influenced his development. His most famous work, "The Prophet," has been translated into over 100 languages and represents the pinnacle of his philosophical creativity.
• Fairuz (born 1935) — The legendary Lebanese singer, whose real name is Nouhad Haddad. Her voice has become a symbol of Lebanon and the entire Arab world. Moving to Beirut as a child, she began her career at a local radio station and soon became one of the most revered and beloved artists in the Middle East. During the civil war, she principally did not perform in Lebanon so that her name would not be used for political purposes, which only strengthened her unifying status.
• Elie Saab (born 1964) — A world-famous fashion designer and founder of the Elie Saab brand. He was born in Beirut and opened his first atelier here at the age of 18, despite the raging civil war. Today, Elie Saab is one of the few non-European designers admitted to the governing body of the French fashion industry, and his luxurious gowns adorn red carpets around the world.
• Keanu Reeves (born 1964) — A world-famous Canadian actor, producer, and musician. He was born in Beirut to an English mother and a father of Hawaiian-Chinese descent. Although his family left Lebanon when he was a child, the fact of his birth in this city is a well-known part of his biography and links the Hollywood star to the Lebanese capital.
• Amin Maalouf (born 1949) — A famous French writer of Lebanese origin, member of the Académie Française. He was born and raised in Beirut, working as a journalist for the local newspaper "An-Nahar" before emigrating to France at the start of the civil war. His novels, such as "Leo Africanus" and "The Rock of Tanios," have been translated into many languages and explore themes of identity, migration, and cultural interaction.
• Nadine Labaki (born 1974) — An acclaimed Lebanese film director, actress, and screenwriter. She was born in a suburb of Beirut and studied at Saint Joseph University in Beirut. Her films, such as "Caramel" and the Oscar-nominated "Capernaum," have received international recognition and drawn global attention to the social issues of modern Lebanon, as well as to the rich cultural life of Beirut.