Aleppo, located in northern Syria, was a major center of commerce, religion, and culture. It was also a prominent city during the early Islamic period and was one of the key cities in the Islamic Empire.

During the Umayyad caliphate, Aleppo became a major center for Islamic scholarship, with many prominent scholars and religious figures residing in the city. It was also an important trade hub, connecting the Mediterranean to the Silk Road, and was a center of cultural exchange between the Islamic world and the West.