Taif History Center
Taif History Center is one of the research centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dedicated to documenting and disseminating the history of Taif. It was inaugurated by Taif University in cooperation with King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), formerly King Saud Palace, at Taif University on January 20, 2021. This cooperation contributed to the exchange of expertise and competencies to preserve the history and heritage of Taif Governorate.
Functions of Taif History Center
Taif History Center undertakes various functions that contribute to preserving, documenting, and disseminating the history of Taif. These functions include researching, collecting, and documenting the history of Taif through its different stages and sources, as well as verifying and editing unpublished manuscripts and memoirs related to Taif’s history. The center also provides support to researchers working on Taif's history, conducting studies and writings, and issuing and publishing periodicals on Taif's history. The center's functions also include holding scientific conferences and cultural seminars, in addition to organizing exhibitions that focus on Taif's history, and supporting researchers and those interested in Taif's history by establishing a technological information portal.
Publications of Taif History Center
The center published a book titled “Taif in the Writings of Western Travelers During the Period 1814-1924: A Historical, Civilizational, Critical, and Comparative Study.” The book discusses travelers who visited Taif during the covered period to explore the city’s geographic and architectural features, as well as the customs, traditions, and social and economic conditions of its people, in addition to highlighting the stages of historical Taif Governorate.
History of Taif Governorate
Taif Governorate is considered the eastern gateway to Makkah Al-Mukarramah. Several accounts exist regarding the origin of the name Taif, the most well-known being that it refers to the wall built around it by the Thaqif Tribe for protection. In the pre-Islamic era, Taif was a vital trade center connecting the Roman, Persian, Abyssinian, Levantine, and Yemeni regions.