A Landmark in the Urban Development of the Ottoman Period: St. George's Church and Socio-Cultural Dynamics in Madaba

With a rich confluence of socio-cultural diversity and history, Madaba from Ottoman times has always been a major meeting point of Byzantine and Ottoman cultures. The famous Church of St. George serves as the fulcrum for all sorts of religious, social, and cultural activities. The landmark has given identity to the urban growth of the city as well as strengthened social cohesion in its multicultural society. Church-surrounding urban growth patterns reinforced the Ottoman manner of urban planning which was characterized by the tendency to organize cities around major religious and social centers. This revolved around grouping neighborhoods into ancestral communities, deviating from existing preurban patterns. The policies of the Ottoman Empire acted as a potent force responsible for the preservation of religious institutions and the structuring of urban neighborhoods thereby forming a peculiar social and ethical hierarchy. The intent of the work is to study the impact the Church of St. George has had on the urban configuration of the city of Madaba from a socio-cultural perspective and investigate how the city developed during different historical periods. This work addresses the comparative interaction between sociocultural dynamics and physical structures and thus provides a more holistic view of the historical growth of Madaba. Thus, this analysis contributes to the academic discourse on the city, shedding light on its cultural intricacies and enhancing comprehension of Madaba's role in the broader socio-historical context of the region during the Ottoman era. Keywords: Ottoman Urban Development, Madaba, St. George Church, Socio-Cultural Dynamics