The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook American Heritage Coll. As the home of Jesus , it is a great pilgrimage and tourist center. Nazareth is also the trade center for an agricultural region. The town's manufactures include processed food, cigarettes, and pottery.
Mineral water is bottled here and stone quarried nearby.
Nazareth is first mentioned in the New Testament, although its settlement antedates historic times. In 1263, Muslims conquered Nazareth, massacring its Christian population. In 1517, Nazareth was annexed by the Ottoman Empire. The Basilica of the Annunciation and the Mosque of Peace are in Nazareth. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.