Palestine - Throne Villages

IBWEIN Latitude: 35ْْْ 12'5.123 Longitude: 32ْْْ 2'9.556 ARRABEH Latitude: 35ْْْ 12'7.192 Longitude: 32ْْْ 24'16.615 BEIT WAZAN Latitude: 35ْْْ 12'54.038 Longitude: 32ْْْ 13'51.893 BURQA Latitude: 35ْْْ 11'31.679 Longitude: 32ْْْ 18'5.876 DEIR GHASSANEH Latitude: 35ْْْ 5'49.63 Longitude: 32ْْْ 2'47.195 DEIR ISTIA Latitude: 35ْْْ 8'21.89 Longitude: 32ْْْ 7'49.665 DURA Latitude: 35ْْْ 1'36.752 Longitude: 31ْْْ 30'23.773 JAMMA'IN Latitude: 35ْْْ 11'56.832 Longitude: 32ْْْ 7'49.412 KUR Latitude: 35ْْْ 5'48.495 Longitude: 32ْْْ 14'5.581 NELEAN Latitude: 35ْْْ 1'17.655 Longitude: 31ْْْ 56'46.851 RAS KARKAR Latitude: 35ْْْ 6'9.555 Longitude: 31ْْْ 56'34.723 SEBASTIA Latitude: 35ْْْ 11'40.996 Longitude: 32ْْْ 16'33.206 SANUR Latitude: 35ْْْ 14'48.024 Longitude: 32ْْْ 21'19.864 Throne villages represent a homogeneous architectural horizon, confined to the central highlands of Palestine. During the 18th and 19th century, these highlands were divided into twenty-four administrative domains (sheikdoms), ruled by sheikhs who belonged to rich or noble families. The villages in which the sheikhs and their clans resided were called "throne villages". Throne villages reflect the social and political role-played by the local political leadership of sheiks at that period; these "county seats of the local leaders" were remarkable for their architectural style. It was distinctive in its scale and spatial organization. The feudal system in the central highlands was determined by a different approach adopted by the Ottoman government with the decline of its central political power and the rise of the power of city governors and local leadership. Large families, anxious to gain more power, played a crucial role in this system. The sheikh, who enjoyed great social and political status, was basically the tax collector of his "sheikhdom" on behalf of the Ottoman government from all the villages in his territory. As a result, these sheikhs gained tremendous power and authority, which was reflected in their life style.