In the last few years, there has :been a revival of interest in Ottoman towns and cibies of the Ara:b prov:i.nces. Atbentıion has been focused on Cairo, but the Syrian cities, particularly Aleppo, have equally attracted bhe attention of researchers. Tlıe Introduction a Z'lıistoire urbaine de la Syrie ottomane is reınark.a:bte ifor its attempt tq provıide regional coverage, and thus it goes beyond · the single-city monograph which . is ·the most common type of contribution .to urban studies. In the foreword, Antoine Abdel Nour i.Ô.dlcates that the book is the product of his dlssertation ·-researches as a student of Dominique Chevallier, and promises further publications in this field. Unfortunately in 1982, the year in which his• .book was .publlshed, the author was kllled in Bei.ru.t without being able to realize the projects he had formed.