Oral History of the City of Jeddah in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century: An Analytical Documentary Study

Abstract

The oral history of cities and communities is one of the most important means for the historical writing of political, economic and cultural developments, as well as documenting the social transformations taking place in societies. The fact is that Jeddah is one of the most important cities in the Muslim World due to its geographical location and economic role, and that it is adjacent to the city of Mecca, the holiest city in Islam that all Muslims have a spiritual connection with. Paying attention to its oral history is one of the most important priorities for historians and intellectuals, especially with the apparent lack of historical writing on the city, and the existence of many gaps to be filled by further research and investigation. The study aims to collect and highlight all efforts made to cover the oral history of Jeddah, including previous studies on the city as well as presenting ideas for future studies. The study used an analytical survey methodology to cover all published works on the oral history of Jeddah. The researcher concluded a number assessments and recommendations that would be of a help to researchers and historians interested in documenting and chronicling the events and interactions of daily life and culture in the city of Jeddah.