Al-Midan
{{Redirect|Midan||Maidan (disambiguation){{!}}Maidan}}
{{About|the neighbourhood of Damascus|the documentary film on the Egyptian Revolution|The Square (2013 film)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Al Midan
| native_name = الميدان
| native_name_lang = ar
| settlement_type = Municipality
| image_skyline = Midan Souk - Jezmatieh Street.jpg
| image_alt = Midan Souk - Jezmatieh Street
| image_caption = Midan Souk - Jezmatieh Street
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| image_map = Districts of damascus english.svg
| map_alt = Al-Mydan on the District map of Damaskus
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg}} Syria
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Damascus Governorate
| subdivision_type2 = City
| subdivision_name2 = Damascus
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File:Midan - Jezmatieh Street.jpg
{{coord|33|29|N|36|17|E|display=title}}
Al-Midan ({{langx|ar|حي الميدان}}) is a neighbourhood and municipality in Damascus, Syria, south of the old walled city and near the modern city centre. In the 2004 census, it had a population of 177,456.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssyr.org/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120801022816/http://www.cbssyr.org/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB01-1-2004.htm|url-status=dead|title=CBSSYR : Arab Republic Office Of Prime Minister|website=CBSSYR|archive-date=1 August 2012|access-date=19 June 2021}} Today, the neighbourhood is often considered to be one of the most conservative in Damascus.{{Cite web|title=The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism|url=https://archive.org/details/greatsyrianrevol00prov|author=Michael Provence|publisher=University of Texas Press Austin|year=2005}}
Etymology
The name Midan is derived from Midan Al Hassa ({{langx|ar|ميدان الحصى}}) or the field of gravel. The neighbourhood was located between two sub Barada streams and when it rained heavily, the land gravel deposits filled the streams and consequently, the neighbourhood.{{Cite web|url=http://www.discover-syria.com/bank/162|title=Discover Syria|website=www.discover-syria.com}}
History
File:Midan, Damascus, 1929.jpg
Al-Midan started during the Mamluk rule over Damascus. It took its final form about 400 years ago during the Ottoman empire and has not experienced any major changes since. It is considered the Southern Gate of Damascus and was created as a trading center by the people of Damascus for them to be closer to the people of the Hauran and to improve trade and economic relations between them.
During the French occupation, the people of Midan revolted aggressively against the French and thus suffered heavy bombing during the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–1927.{{cite web|url=http://www.syrianhistory.com/content/conservative-al-midan-neighborhood-damascus-1920s|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919011645/http://www.syrianhistory.com/photo|archivedate=2012-09-19|url-status=dead|title= Syrian History photos |website=syrianhistory.com}}{{failed verification|date=May 2022}} Their actions were driven in part by the extensive commercial links connecting the grain merchants of the neighborhood with Druze notables in the Hawran, among whom the revolt had begun.{{Cite book|title=The Great Syrian Revolt and the Rise of Arab Nationalism|last=Provence|first=Michael|publisher=University of Texas Press|year=2005|location=Austin|pages=13, 69}}
Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar, the founders of the Ba'th Party, were both born in the Midan as sons of grain merchants.{{sfn|Batatu|2000|pp=724–725}}
The neighborhood was and still is (compared to other neighbourhoods in Damascus) very conservative.
File:Traditional Midani Sweet Shop.jpg
Some of the sweets for which Midan is famous for include baklava, barazek, kanafeh, namorah, and awameh.{{Cite news|url=http://sana.sy/en/?p=190766|title=Al-Midan neighborhood in Damascus|publisher=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=30 April 2020|access-date=18 September 2022}}
Districts
- Bab Masr (pop. 11,330){{cite web|title=Syrian Arab Republic Damascus Governorate Reference map|url=http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SYR_11102_Damascus_A1L_20150316_web.pdf|website=ReliefWeb|publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs|access-date=2016-04-08|date=2015-03-16}}
- Daqaq (pop. 10,858)
- Al-Haqleh (pop. 8,076)
- Al-Qa'a (pop. 11,791)
- Midan al-Wastani (pop. 23,745)
- Al-Tadamon (pop. 86,793)
- Az-Zahreh (pop. 24,863)
Notable historic figures
See also
References
Bibliography
- {{cite book|author=Batatu, Hanna|ref=CITEREFBatatu2000|title=The Old Social Classes and New Revolutionary Movements of Iraq|publisher=Saqi Books|year=2000|edition=3rd|isbn=0863565204|author-link=Hanna Batatu}}
{{Damascus}}
{{Ottoman hajj routes}}
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