Maps and the Historical Topography of Beirut

"Five maps of Beirut, draughted in the mid- 19th century were used to help explain the initial Bronze Age choice for urban settlement, then to discover the Hellenistic and Roman grid street-pattern which survived in the disposition of the modern souks. The maps were also used to propose possible sites for the hyppodrome of the city, and to locate the mideaval defences of Beirut.This article examines how maps of Beirut, draughted in the early - and mid-19th century, can be used in the fields of urban historical geography, historical topography and archaeology of the city..."