Riyadh: A scientific session titled “Economic Conditions in the Second Half of the 13th Century AH/19th Century AD” was held yesterday as part of the activities of the 11th International Symposium on the History of the Arabian Peninsula, organized by the King Salman Center for Studies of the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula at King Saud University.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the session highlighted the diversity of economic activities and their historical sources through a study of local markets, pilgrimages, and regional trade, and the economic and social impacts they had on the regions of the Arabian Peninsula and its surrounding areas during the 19th century AD.

The session featured several academic papers, including one titled “Weekly and Seasonal Markets in the Villages of Southeastern Taif in the Second Half of the 13th Century AH/19th Century AD (1256-1299 AH / 1840-1882 AD),” presented by Mansour Ibrahim Al-Harthi. Al-Harthi reviewed the diversity of weekly and seasonal markets and their operating hours, as well as the administrative and security regulations for monitoring prices.

Dr. Suhaib Alam presented a paper titled “Economic Activity in the Hejaz During the Period 1281-1291 AH (1865-1875 AD) in Light of Indian Hajj Travel Books.” He noted that the history of writing Hajj travel diaries dates to the 16th century in India, and he explained the aspects of economic and social life documented by these travel books in the Hejaz during the 19th century AD.

The session is part of the 11th International Symposium on the History of the Arabian Peninsula, which aims to highlight the political, economic, and social dimensions of the peninsula, with the participation of a select group of specialized researchers and academics.