Maps Of Jerusalem Gate - Step # 2

Maps Drawn Before The Advent Of Printing

Early Twelfth-Century Crusader Map Of Jerusalem (85k)

Frankish knights stormed the shores of the Middle East on the First
Crusade and captured Jerusalem in 1099.  The Crusaders brought back
this map from their journey to spread news of the conquest. This map
and others like it drawn during those times, revolutionized
dramatically the cartography of the Holy Land, moving Jerusalem to the
very Center of the World. Jerusalem is shown as a circular colonnade
divided into four equal parts by two main thoroughfares; one connects
the Gate of Damascus with the Gate of Mount Zion, and the other passes
from the Tower of David to the opposite wall. The most prominent
buildings are churches and shrines.