Lesson plan
Caphar
A caphar was a toll or duty imposed by the Turks on the Christian merchants who transported their merchandise from Aleppo to Jerusalem. The term was derived from the Arabic term kifhara, which means "defence" or "protection". Individuals who manned these posts or leaders of armed groups who offered protection to merchants also claimed the right to collect the caphar. The caphar was introduced by the Christians themselves when they controlled the Holy Land. The toll originally supported troops and forces who were posted in the more difficult passes, to prevent pillaging from Arabs. But the Turks, who continued and even raised the toll, abused the practice, exacting arbitrary sums from the Christian merchants and travellers. This was on the pretense of guarding them from Arabs, with whom the guards frequently kept an understanding, and even favored their pillaging.
Article summary
A caphar was a toll or duty imposed by the Turks on the Christian merchants who transported their merchandise from Aleppo to Jerusalem. The term was derived from the Arabic term kifhara, which means "defence" or "protection". Individuals who manned these posts or leaders of armed groups who offered protection to merchants also claimed the right to collect the caphar. The caphar was introduced by the Christians themselves when they controlled the Holy Land. The toll originally supported troops and forces who were posted in the more difficult passes, to prevent pillaging from Arabs. But the Turks, who continued and even raised the toll, abused the practice, exacting arbitrary sums from the Christian merchants and travellers. This was on the pretense of guarding them from Arabs, with whom the guards frequently kept an understanding, and even favored their pillaging.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.