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Aleppo
Arabic:
halab
City in Syria with 2.1 million inhabitants (2005 estimate).
Commercial and cultural centre of northern Syria. Aleppo is situated on an arid plateau at an elevation of 430 metres above sea level.
Ancient Aleppo was known as Beroea, and it dates back to at least 1000 BCE.
Aleppo's economy is based on trading agricultural products; on carpet factories, output of silk, cotton, wool textiles, embroidery, silver and gold artifacts; and on leather goods.
Aleppo has a university, which was founded in 1960. The city's architecture is a nice mixture between the modern and the traditional. The most famous of Aleppo's sights is the citadel, from where all of the city can be seen. Other sights, like the Mosque of Zacharias, is said to be situated on the site of the tomb of John the Baptist's father.
History
1128: Aleppo submits to Zangi, in exchange of military protection against the Christian Crusaders. It thereby becomes part of the Zangid state.
1138: One of world history's heaviest earthquakes hits Aleppo district, killing perhaps 230,000 people.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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