The Damascus Events | Eugene Rogan

The Damascus Events: The 1860 Massacre and the Making of the Modern Middle East

Accolades & Recognition

• An award-winning scholar's account of an ancient city's descent into unprecedented communal violence.
• Illuminates the critical turning point that marked the end of the old Ottoman order and the beginning of the modern Middle East.

Extended Synopsis

On July 9, 1860, a violent mob swept through the Christian quarters of Damascus. For eight days, intense violence raged, leaving thousands dead, shops looted, and churches, houses, and monasteries razed. The sudden and ferocious outbreak shocked the global community and left Syrian Christians acutely vulnerable to renewed conflict.

Drawn from never-before-seen eyewitness accounts, eminent Middle East historian Eugene Rogan tells the riveting story of how a peaceful multicultural city became engulfed in slaughter. Rogan traces how rising tensions between Muslim and Christian communities led some to regard extermination as a solution, while also examining the aftermath—how the Ottoman government moved quickly to retake control, end the violence, and successfully reintegrate and rebuild the community to preserve peace for generations.

About the Author

Eugene Rogan is an eminent Middle East historian and award-winning scholar whose research and writing focus extensively on the modern history and geopolitical evolution of the Middle East.

Reader Targeting

• Readers and researchers interested in Middle Eastern history, Ottoman studies, and 19th-century geopolitics.
• Students and academics studying sectarian conflict, communal violence, and regional historical development.
• History enthusiasts looking for authoritative, primary-source-driven narratives of geopolitical transformation.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What historical event is the primary focus of The Damascus Events?
The book investigates the devastating 1860 sectarian violence and communal riots in Damascus that destroyed Christian quarters and reshaped the modern Middle East.

How does Eugene Rogan approach the narrative?
Drawing from never-before-seen eyewitness accounts, Rogan traces the breakdown of a multicultural city, the outbreak of the massacre, and the Ottoman government's efforts to restore order and rebuild.

Who is the author of the book?
Eugene Rogan is an eminent Middle East historian and award-winning scholar specializing in the modern history of the region.