Roberto Mazza is Assistant Professor of History at Western Illinois University. He holds a PhD from SOAS, University of London and is the co-editor of Jerusalem in World War I: The Palestine Diary of a European Diplomat (I.B.Tauris).

'[this book] provides students of the Middle East, Palestine and Jerusalem a cogent and rich discussion of a unique moment in Jerusalem's history - he should be commended for undertaking such thorough research to complete this study.' International Journal of Middle East Studies '..an important work which should provoke further debate about this crucial moment in the history of Palestine.' Bulletin of SOAS 'This fine book covers new ground on the history of both Jerusalem and Palestine. Roberto Mazza sheds light on a crucial and under-researched period of the history of Palestine which witnessed the issue of the Balfour declaration and the fast development of Zionist propaganda as a prelude to the establishment of the British mandate' Nelida Fuccaro, Reader in the Modern History of the Middle East, SOAS, University of London 'Roberto Mazza's study is the best work we have to date on Jerusalem during the transition from Ottoman to British rule.' Nir Arielli, Lecturer in International History and Politics, University of Leeds 'Roberto Mazza's study highlights the essential mechanisms and infrastructures that were in place in Jerusalem during the Ottoman era and how this had an impact on British visions for the city' Vivian Ibrahim, Croft Assistant Professor of History and International Studies of the Middle East, University of Mississippi

• Lists of TablesList of Maps List of IllustrationsAcknowledgementsGlossaryIntroductionChapter 1: Modernising Jerusalem: Administration and PopulationFrom Ottoman to Egyptian rule and backFrom the Tanzimat to the Young Turks through the Hamidian era: patterns of governance and administrationThe Sancak and the MutasarrifThe Municipality of JerusalemThe Councils ruling JerusalemThe Notables of Jerusalem in the late Ottoman eraThe People of Jerusalem (1905-1922): figures and definitionsChapter 2: Christianity at WarThe Christian Churches of Jerusalem in historyPatriarchates between the Ottomans and the European Powers The Churches and the Capitulations ‘Peace’ among Christians: the Status Quo, origins and developments Christian Churches facing mobilisation and war The Custody of the Holy Land The Custody in the aftermath of the war: local and international dimensions The strange allies: Arab Christians and Muslims togetherChapter 3: Foreigners in Jerusalem Visiting Jerusalem Consulates Foreigners and the War Consul of War: Conde de Ballobar Consular missions in the aftermath of the WarChapter 4: The War and the British conquest of Jerusalem Preparing for war: mobilisation of human, material and ideological resources The real value of Jerusalem at the beginning of the war The British conquest of Jerusalem: 9 December 1917 ‘Gerusalemme Liberata’ ‘A dramatic incident of war’: the surrender of Jerusalem Jerusalem conquered: local, British and international reactions The end of the last Crusade? Chapter 5: British Military Rule 1917-1920 and the case of the Nebi Musa Riots Military rule: 1917-1920 The ‘despot’ ruler of Jerusalem: Ronald Storrs Planning Jerusalem April 1920: Nebi Musa RiotsEpilogueNotesBibliographyIndex