The Mamluk period of Jerusalem lasted from 1244 to 1516, and during this time the City of Jerusalem had no outer walls protecting it. Without stone barriers acting as protection the population decreases to less than 10,000 people and its economy suffers. Its attention is turned to a religious city were the focus was spiritual growth and development. It was no longer a desired city politically or militarily because it had no walls. If any construction projects began they were for schools, hospitals, and religious centers. The architecture used was still Islamic in that it mainly built with geometric shapes and images. During this time period the former temple mount became the Haram. The Jewish quarter also grows during this time.
Beginning in 1516 the Ottoman Turks gain control of the area and hold on to it until 1918. Sultan Sulieman the magnificent completes many public works projects to help restore Jerusalem to its former glory. Most important of which, the Sultan rebuilds the walls around the Holy City. He also encourages the Jews to return and settle again in Jerusalem. Sulieman gives the Jewish people the western “wailing” wall as a holy place to worship. Jewish “Zionism” begins to rise to prominence in this time period as well, and Jewish settlements begin to pop in Jerusalem.
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