Jerusalem: Religiously and Geographically Significant

     The video Jerusalem highlights many of the cultural differences and customs of religions that all coexist in the same shared space, as well as the rich history that surrounds the city. Three aspects of the video that stood out to me the most were the quarters and subgroups that define the city, the ancient ruins that Jerusalem is built on top of, and the actual physical location of the city. The video accentuates these aspects informatively so that any viewer can gain a better understanding of Jerusalem’s history.

One of the major topics the video discusses is the quarters of the city. Jerusalem is divided into four quarters; the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and Armenian quarters (although not much is known about the Armenian quarter). These quarters all follow a different religion and the boundaries between them are not only political but also social. In the video, one of the narrators explains how she does not know people outside of her quarter, and that it is rare for people to communicate between quarters. This is especially interesting because Jerusalem itself is not very large (about 50 square miles including the newer areas) and citizens should encounter one another fairly often. This serves as a testimony to the division inside the city between the different religions. However, there are also subgroups inside of these quarters. For example, some subgroups of the Christian quarter include Greek Orthodox and Catholic among others.

Another highlight of the video is the ancient ruins that Jerusalem is built upon. Because each religion lays claim to Jerusalem as “the city closest to God”, the city has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times on top of itself. This means that people in Jerusalem can see evidence of its rich history both in its foundations and the remaining ruins scattered around the city. As well, the geographical location of Jerusalem was especially attractive to its founders. The city is strategically located on top of a plateau, making it easily defensible against invaders. As well, numerous water sources such as the Gihon Spring were a reliable way for citizens to remain healthy and hydrated. This also meant that there were plenty of natural resources, whether from the mountainous region or the rich soil. Finally, Jerusalem was also situated along many trade routes which allowed the city to trade with foreign entities and keep advancing technologically. All these factors meant that people were naturally drawn to Jerusalem as both a place of religious significance and quality of life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLW6vO-7rFk