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| An aerial photo of Palmyra, taken prior to its destruction at the hands of ISIS |
Alternatively, Professor Nigel Pollard's studies on Palmyra (on which this post is based) also provide fertile ground for non-syllabus specific historical discussion.
Palmyra is a significant site for a number of reasons. Founded in 2000 BCE, it grew into a vibrant centre of pre-Islamic culture in the Middle East, and has been envisioned by historians as a key site on the 'Silk Road'. Palmyra's existence as a multi-cultural trading hub between Eastern and European classical cultures provides evidence for an ancient global economy (Big History scholars will find much of interest in this), and it has also been viewed, alongside the excavation of Pompeii, from a historiographical standpoint as somewhat instrumental in the West's rediscovery of the ancient world.
In reference to the earlier parts of its history, Palmyra's political status has been seen by historians as somewhat hyphenated. Sitting at the base of mountain ranges in the unforgivably desolate Syrian Desert, Palmyra occupied a geopolitical point between the West (Rome) and East (Persia) as a marginalised part of the Roman Empire. The oasis created by the wadi (valley) that sits between the two halves of the Palmyrene mountain range provided the conditions that made this a perfect exchange network between the Mediterranean and Asia.
In the 3rd Century, Palmyra broke from the Roman Empire and asserted its own authority as an independent city state, with it's own ruler; the regent Zenobia who ruled in place of her adolescent son. The city grew into the relatively shortlived Palmyrene Empire with the conquest of Egypt and Galatia, which predictably ended with the destruction of the Empire at the hands of the Romans (resulting in significant destruction of the city and its people).
Much more recently, WWI and the Syrian Civil War have both seen further threat to the survival of Palmyra as an archaeological treasure. In the Syrian conflict, the movement of troops and displaced peoples has had a tremendous impact on historical sites like Palmyra and - in much more sinister fashion - the intentional targeting of Syria's heritage by ISIS (for ideological reasons) has resulted in significant damage as well. Indeed, the status of Palmyra as a heritage site has actually made it a target for ISIS, who have blown up the Temple of Bel and other major parts of the ancient city. UNESCO's denomination of Palmyra as historically and cultural significant has also made it a focus for what Professor Pollard calls 'soft' power, with both Russia and the Syrian regime very keen to claim its capture and protection as a legitimisation of their rule over the region.
In the 3rd Century, Palmyra broke from the Roman Empire and asserted its own authority as an independent city state, with it's own ruler; the regent Zenobia who ruled in place of her adolescent son. The city grew into the relatively shortlived Palmyrene Empire with the conquest of Egypt and Galatia, which predictably ended with the destruction of the Empire at the hands of the Romans (resulting in significant destruction of the city and its people).
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| Professor Nigel Pollard talking about the rise of the Palmyrene Empire at Glenmore Park High School, Western Sydney |
Much more recently, WWI and the Syrian Civil War have both seen further threat to the survival of Palmyra as an archaeological treasure. In the Syrian conflict, the movement of troops and displaced peoples has had a tremendous impact on historical sites like Palmyra and - in much more sinister fashion - the intentional targeting of Syria's heritage by ISIS (for ideological reasons) has resulted in significant damage as well. Indeed, the status of Palmyra as a heritage site has actually made it a target for ISIS, who have blown up the Temple of Bel and other major parts of the ancient city. UNESCO's denomination of Palmyra as historically and cultural significant has also made it a focus for what Professor Pollard calls 'soft' power, with both Russia and the Syrian regime very keen to claim its capture and protection as a legitimisation of their rule over the region.
Crimes against cultural property are essentially crimes against people, as these sites are emblematic of a people's heritage - Pollard asserts that there is often a correlation between those who would commit genocide with those who destroy sites of historical significance. It's a case of erasing the signs that a culture ever existed, and examples of this are unfortunately all too common in recent history - in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. - and almost always coincide with ethnic cleansing and similarly abhorrent crimes against identity.
For more information on the destruction of Palmyra, visit the following links:
Reuters - Palmyra Before and After ISIS
Guardian Article about the Destruction of Palmyra
'The Battle Over History' - Foreign Policy Blog on Palmyra
The Ancient City of Palmyra
For more information on the destruction of Palmyra, visit the following links:
Reuters - Palmyra Before and After ISIS
Guardian Article about the Destruction of Palmyra
'The Battle Over History' - Foreign Policy Blog on Palmyra
The Ancient City of Palmyra
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