history | Al Majalla

Syria's journey from union to state under French rule

First divided into mini-states, France later merged them into a federal union in 1922, which was a spectacular failure. In 1925, it was replaced by the Syrian state with Damascus as the capital.

Sami Moubayed 18 August 2025

An Iraqi fisherman casts his net in the Euphrates River, which passes through the city of Nasiriyah the capital of the Iraqi Dhi Qar Governorate on January 2, 2024.

Asaad Niazi / AFP

Nasiriyah and Iraq’s rural-urban divide

It is no easy task to write about a wound that has yet to heal. In Nasiriyah and the Reed Hut, published by Al-Masar Publishing House, Ahmed Abdul Sattar reopens this wound

Marwan Yassin Al Dulaimi 30 July 2025

Dr. Oswaldo Aranha, President of the UN General Assembly, announces the assembly's official adoption of the plan to partition Palestine into independent Arab and Jewish states.

Getty

This day in history: The UN decrees the partition of Palestine

UN Resolution 181 was never implemented, and instead of getting half of their ancestral homeland, the Palestinians got nothing; 77 years later, the situation remains as bleak as ever.

Sami Moubayed 29 November 2024

An illustration of a tribe of prehistoric 'cavemen' battling ferocious animals.

GraphicaArtis/Getty Images

The real meaning of humanity’s origin story

A new book shows what human prehistory has mistakenly taught us—and misunderstands what it still can

Nikhil Krishnan 09 June 2024

On the anniversary of Rasputin’s death, Faith healer or religious charlatan?

Although it's been 107-years since Rasputin's own death, he remains one of the most captivating and controversial figures of modern times

Sami Moubayed 30 December 2023

Al-Alfy Street in downtown Cairo. (Credit: Salwa Samir)

Al-Alfy: Egypt’s Champs-Elysées

During his reign, Khedive Ismail (r. 1863-1879) had dreamt to make downtown Cairo resemble the European countries that underwent remarkable progress in the field of architecture at that time…

Salwa Samir 14 January 2023

90 Years Old and Still Young

As the 79th Venice International Film Festival begins on Wednesday, August 31st, this Italian event is regaining prominence due to two key factors. The first is that it has consistently (especially…

Mohammed Rouda 02 September 2022

Studio assistants set up for a portrait session at the Deo Gratias studio, Ghana's oldest photography studio still operating in Jamestown, Accra, Ghana July 14, 2022. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko

Century-Old Family Photo Studio Preserves Ghana's History in Black and White

A generation before the Gold Coast became Ghana, local photographer J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije opened a small studio in the then-colonial capital Accra, where his family would become the de facto visual…

31 August 2022

ALt 23

The Metaverse Has a Surprisingly Long History

Nattie’s metaverse romance began with anonymous texting. At first “C” would admit only to living in a nearby town. Nattie eventually learned “Clem” was a man with a solitary office job like hers. For…

Tom Boellstorff 27 August 2022

The stage consists of a round wooden platform as a stage surrounded by a small wooden partition with two doors for the dervishes to enter and leave before and after their Mawlawi performance. (Credit: Salwa Samir)

Takiya Al-Mawlawiyah

Takiya Al-Mawlawiyah, in Cairo’s historic neighbourhood of El-Darb El-Ahmar, is the only remaining Takiya with dervish theater. It has a rich history that dates back to the 14th century. Takiya…

Salwa Samir 06 August 2022

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Editor's Pick

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024.

SANA

Politics

Ahmed Sharaa on Syria's 'zero-problems' strategy

26 August 2025

Syria's president says the Abraham Accords aren't the right fit for Damascus. Instead, he hopes to reinstate the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel or something similar

Ibrahim Hamidi

Tunisia's President Kais Saied (R) shows Massad Boulos, senior adviser to the US president for Africa, pictures of starving children in Gaza during their meeting at the presidential palace in Carthage on July 22, 2025.

Tunisian Presidency / AFP

Business & Economy

The US returns to North Africa with an eye on Beijing and Moscow

29 August 2025

The US is prioritising trade, investment, and regional stability as it reasserts influence from Morocco to Libya

Mohamed Sharki

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L), Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet on the sidelines of the two-day NATO Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague on June 24, 2025.

Ludovic MARIN / AFP

Politics

European countries trigger the ‘snapback’ of Iran sanctions

29 August 2025

France, Germany, and the UK ran out of patience with Tehran and are bringing back previously halted UN measures

Keith Johnson

People mourn for Palestinian journalists Moaz Abu Taha and Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, who were killed in an Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in Gaza on August 25, 2025, along with 15 others.

AFP

Culture & Social Affairs

'Genocide didn't unfold in Gaza; it was the intent all along'

25 August 2025

A new book by Lebanese jurist Mazen Shindab provides an invaluable legal resource on the genocide in Gaza, laying bare the flaws of international law and the moral imperative to hold Israel to account

Abdul Rahman Mazhar Halloush

Sara Padovan

Politics

Are land grabs becoming the norm in today's world?

25 August 2025

Trump's willingness to cede Ukrainian land to Russia will have global repercussions, but the acceptance of land seizures actually goes back decades, with Israel being a serial offender

Christopher Phillips

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LATEST ISSUE

Syria's journey from union to state under French rule

Nasiriyah and Iraq’s rural-urban divide

This day in history: The UN decrees the partition of Palestine

The real meaning of humanity’s origin story

On the anniversary of Rasputin’s death, Faith healer or religious charlatan?

Al-Alfy: Egypt’s Champs-Elysées

90 Years Old and Still Young

Century-Old Family Photo Studio Preserves Ghana's History in Black and White

The Metaverse Has a Surprisingly Long History

Takiya Al-Mawlawiyah

Ahmed Sharaa on Syria's 'zero-problems' strategy

The US returns to North Africa with an eye on Beijing and Moscow

European countries trigger the ‘snapback’ of Iran sanctions

'Genocide didn't unfold in Gaza; it was the intent all along'

Are land grabs becoming the norm in today's world?

OPINIONS

Trump’s tariffs are forging a new global order

Federalism is the only solution for Yemen

Kais Saied appears to be in the driver's seat...for now

Syria’s promise of accountability risks ringing hollow

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