13/11/2019
In the earliest prehistoric times, Sinai was invaded by nomadic flint workers who came mostly from neighboring Asiatic regions on their way to Egypt. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), Neolithic (New Stone Age) and Calaeolithic (Stone-Bronze Age) settlements have been found in various places, especially in Wadi al-Arish (northern Sinai), Tih Plateau (middle Sinai) and various sites in the southern Sinai.
The stone and bronze tools, implements, weapons, pottery and vessels that were locally manufactured show a distinct resemblance to those discovered in Egypt, indicating that they were related to Egyptian Culture. Occasionally these implements were more associated with those of southern Palestine, although there is no strong evidence of close connections between Egypt and Canaan through Sinai that long ago. At the same time, it is clear that in a land of transients like Sinai, immigrants may have settled and spread their cultural practices among the original inhabitants.
Sinai in the Pharaonic Times: the ancient Egyptians displayed little interest in Sinai except for mining in the south and strategic, military and defense needs in the north.
During the Old Kingdom (2780 B.C. - 2280 B.C.) Sinai was known for its copper and turquoise mines, particularly in al-Maghara area where inscriptions showing names of major kings of that period were found.
Although there is evidence for sporadic Egyptian involvement in exploiting the minerals of Sinai since pre-dynastic times, the earliest king attested at Wadi Maghara is the Dynasty III ruler, Djoser Netjerikhet, owner of the step pyramid at Saqqara.
A relief found at Wadi Maghara depicts this King standing beside a goddess and his inscription is almost lost because the destruction that had been happened in the region. His organized mining activity there is considered to be one of the most significant developments of the king’s reign.
During the Middle Kingdom (2130 B.C. - 1600 B.C.), mines in Sinai continued to be exploited and more sites nearby al-Maghara such as Serabit al-Khadem were explored. On this site a temple was built for goddess Hathor, where numerous inscriptions showing names of kings were found.
During The New Kingdom (1600 B.C. - 1000 B.C.), particularly with the beginning of the 18th Dynasty (1580 B.C.), the great military route was frequently used as one of the important military routes in the ancient world following the defeat of the Hyksos at the hands of the Egyptian army. En route to Egypt, the Holy Family crossed through Sinai.
During the Nabatanean era (2nd B.C. – 2nd A.D.), Their inscriptions thus have been discovered in southern Sini were found in various places such as; in Wadi Haggag, Jebel Monajah, Wadi Mukatteb, Jebel Baraqa, Wadi Feiran, Jebel ‘Egma – Naqb Judeid, Moses Mountain, Jebel Serbal, Wadi Nasib, Wadi Maghara, Dahab, and others. It means that the inscriptions were discovered at places located on their commercial routes through Sinai, or at the places of their residential communities in Sinai.
The desert of the Sinai Peninsula is particularly fascinating for those interested in some of the oldest civilizations chronicled in the Bible. Sinai witnessed the Exodus of Israelites with Moses from Egypt, as it witnessed the receiving of Moses for the Ten Commandments upon al-Tur Mountain or Moses Mount. Hence, South Sinai’s Gebel Musa is spiritually and historically significant for Christian, Jews, and Muslims.
As the power of the Pharaohs waned and that of the Romans waxed, the Sinai was drawn into a new era. In the north, the ancient Track of Horus became a fortified Roman road with its center at the great city of Pelusium. In the Southern Sinai, the persecuted Christians of Egypt who escaped there began to build isolated settlements. By 500 A.D. the Roman Empire had split, and Sinai fell into the Christian realm of Byzantium. In 565 A.D., the Byzantine emperor Justinian expressed his devotion by constructing the Monastery of St. Catherine at the base of Mount Sinai.
Sinai in the Middle Ages, it is said that, in the second year of the Hegira, corresponding to 623 AD, a delegation from Sinai requested a letter of protection from prophet Muhammed. This was granted and authorized by him when he placed his hand upon the document. The letter of protection is known as ‘ahed (عهد) and it has been instrumental in the protection of the monastery of St. Catherine as it is ensuring the peaceful and cooperative relations between Christians and Muslims.
In the course of Arab conquest of Egypt in 641 A.D., the Muslim army led by Amr Ibn al-A's, coming from Syria, marched through Sinai along the often-trodden old military road parallel to the Mediterranean coast up to al-Arish. Hence, the army proceeded forward to al-Farma (Pelusium) where it managed to overcome strong resistance by the Byzantine garrison.
After the Islamic conquest of Egypt, the rulers started to use the overland route through middle Sinai which links between Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, as it was the shortest, less dangerous route and provides sources of water. The interest of this route wasn’t standard during this period because there were not a lot of Hajj Caravans and the concern of the route was seized in determining its path and erasing the primitive obstacles on it.
During the Ayyubid era (1171-1250), as a result of the existence of the Crusaders in Bilad al-Sham (Greater Syria) and their expansion that reached the Kingdom of Jerusalem and their occupation to Ayla (‘Aqaba).
It represented a threat to the Egyptian Hajj and Trade routes, and it caused that the Egyptian Hajj route, particularly the first quarter between Birkat al-Hajj and ‘Aqaba become a military route upon which the armies of Saladin (1169-93) marched between Cairo and Damascus, and it became known as the route of Sadr-Ayla.
During the Mamluk era (1250-1517), the interest of the overland route increased a lot and witnessed many constructions to protect and serve the pilgrims’ caravans starting from Cairo reaching to Mecca. The most significant buildings constructed on the path of the route were forts and towers that served as security points in addition to acting as khans, which were centers of hospitality for travelers and pilgrims.
During the Ottoman era (1517-1798), the Mamluk towers and forts were expanded to incorporate khans, these were built at the major stations on the route, namely ‘Ajroud, Suez, al-Tur, Nakhl, Abyar al-‘Alai‘i, ‘Aqaba. The 14th century A.H. witnessed the official decision of Egypt to convert the overland route of Hajj to the Red Sea through Suez and al-Tur ports. But the poor from pilgrims continued using the overland route till 1885 A.D. when it stopped finally without back. There are reasons encouraged for that, especially after the opening of Suez Canal in 1869 A.D. and the construction of a railway links between Cairo and Suez.
The recent history of Sinai: Sinai in the last half-century dominated by the conflicts between Egypt and Israel, the latter of which occupied the Peninsula between 1967 and 1982. Since Israel’s withdrawal in accordance with the Camp David accords, a less militarized Sinai has welcomed ever-growing numbers of visitors from all countries. Its religious and cultural heritage and spectacular natural environment have stimulated an era of economic prosperity that is unprecedented in the peninsula’s long history.
By: Islam Nabil Abdel Samiee
Director of ETPB - S. Sinai
Map designed by: Dr. Amr al-kady
