The landscapes of Gaza seen on our TV screens these days are a far cry from what a traveler at the beginning of the century would have seen. As a city situated on the maritime route linking Asia to Africa, it was always a place of regional significance. In ancient times it marked the end of the Perfume Route, and during the Mamluk period it was the capital of the Palestine province. Under the auspices of the imperial governors the city flourished during Ottoman rule, becoming a religious and cultural center, and one of the most important cities in the Palestine province.
At the end of the Ottoman period the city still had a flourishing economy and exported large quantities of agricultural produce. In that period Gaza was still a quiet city, with a desert beauty and a pastoral coastline. The British conquered the city in 1917 and it was included in the British Mandate. Under British rule the city saw a boom of construction and development, and many new neighborhoods appeared along the coastline during the 1930's and 1940's.
Displayed here are some images from a simpler time, when views of Gaza reflected a postcard-type beauty.