Syrian Home Life

Syrian Home Life by Henry Harris Jessup; Isaac Riley. This ethnographic volume surveys the daily life of Syrians through the eyes of American missionaries in Lebanon and Syria during the 19th century, drawing on material supplied by Dr. Henry Harris Jessup and compiled by Rev. Isaac Riley. It covers a wide range of topics—from the architecture of houses and domestic arrangements to dress, children, schools, weddings, punishments, and the social meanings of names and food. It also delves into religious practices, superstitions, and the diverse communities of Druzes and Nusairiyeh, and recounts the Civil War’s impact on Christian communities and mission work. Rich in anecdote and observation, the work offers a vivid portrait of family life, gender roles, education, and cultural customs under Ottoman rule, highlighting the influence of Christian missions on education and social reform. An important historical ethnography of Syrian Home Life in the mid- to late-1800s.