The origins of Nablus trace back to before the Canaanite period, in which a selection of pottery from the Chalcolithic–Copper Age (4500 BCE) was discovered. The name 'Shechem', which Nablus was originally known by, dates back to its earliest inhabitants—Canaanite tribes who migrated from the Arabian Peninsula in the middle of the third millennium BCE. The name stands for shoulder or flank. During the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1550 BCE), Shechem was declared a city-state. Moreover, the city was mentioned in the Amarna letters around 1400 BCE as “Shakimi”, reflecting its importance at that time.

The Roman Era in Nablus began around 72-73 AD, when the Roman Emperor Vespasian commanded the removal of stones from the destroyed city, for the purpose of constructing a new city at the site of the current old city, which is located to the west of the Canaanite city. At that time, the Romans named the city “Flavia Neapolis”, where “Flavia” referred to the Surname of the Roman Emperor Flavius, whereas 'Neapolis', derived from Greek, means “new city”.

The City’s layout during the Roman period was laid out lengthwise from east to west. Stone Columns ran along both sides of the main road, known as the Cardo. Throughout its length, paved courtyards were established, followed by the construction of an underground water channel. As of today, a section of this road remains visible, and the water channel can be accessed beneath the Dhafar al-Masri School in the Qaysariya neighborhood through a narrow passage approximately 10 meters below the level of the Roman street. Neapolis covered an area of about 1000 dunums, featuring all the elements of a Roman city.

From 324 to 636 AD, the city's identity changed from pagan to Roman Christian and it gained considerable religious significance, transforming it into a bishopric center in the 4^th century. Around 530 AD, during Emperor Justinian’s reign, Christianity was spread among the inhabitants, leading to the construction of five churches.

In 636 AD, Nablus experienced a period of security after the Islamic conquest and became part of the district known as “Jund Filastin”, with its capital in Ramla. Nablus was administratively linked to Damascus, the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. The city later was ruled by several Islamic dynasties, including the Abbasids in 749 AD, the Shiite Fatimids in 968 AD, and the Seljuks in 1076 AD, until it was conquered by the Crusaders in 1099 AD.

The Crusader period commenced on July 25, 1099, when Nablus fell to the Crusaders, following the capture of Jerusalem earlier that spring. To guard the city, King Baldwin I built a fortress between 1100 and 1118 AD, and the remains of the fortress are still observable to this day and are open to visitors.

Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi’s victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187 AD marked the beginning of the Ayyubid’s period. He granted protection to the Christians and Samaritan inhabitants of Nablus, ensuring that those who wished to maintain their religion were guaranteed safety and security. An inscription carved in stone at the Great Salah al-Din Mosque documents this.

Despite this, the Ayyubid period was plagued by internal conflicts among its rulers, leading to the city's downfall and making it vulnerable to Crusader attacks and destruction. Compounding these issues, a major earthquake in 1199 AD played a significant role in demolishing the city, resulting in a notable absence of buildings from that era.

In 1260 AD, the Mamluk era commenced with taking control of Egypt. Once they secured their authority, the Mamluk army managed to take over Gaza, the Palestinian coast, and Nablus. The Mamluk rule lasted for about 256 years, bringing security, stability, and prosperity to many aspects of life, including scientific and intellectual fields. However, there appear to be no surviving architectural remnants from that era, with the exception of the minaret of the Al-Khadr Mosque in the Yasmina neighborhood.

The Ottoman Empire gained control of Nablus in 1521 AD, relying on local Mamluk governors, among them was Prince Farukh ibn Abdullah al-Sharkasi, , who governed Nablus, Jerusalem, Ajloun and al-Karak, and also managed the pilgrimage office in 1612, establishing his administrative center in Nablus. Subsequent rulers from the Farukh family administered the city, but eventually, the people of Nablus revolted. In response, the Ottoman Empire dispatched a military campaign to reinforce their authority. Afterward, the Ottomans appointed local governors from the city to oversee its governance.

The local governors were represented by three families, including the an-Nimrs, the Touqan’s and the Abd-elhadi’s. The first ruler from those families was from the an-Nimr’s family, particularly Prince Yusuf bin Abdullah Pasha (d. 1685 AD), and from the Touqan’s family: Saleh Pasha Touqan, who governed Nablus and Gaza in 1722.

In 1671, a Turkish traveler Evliya Tschelibi provided details about Nablus's buildings and locations. According to his report: "The city is stunningly beautiful, situated between two mountains, and is abundant with gardens and orchards... All government buildings and large residences are distinguished by their running water, pools, and fresh springs”.

During the Ottoman Empire, the city of Nablus underwent a period of stability and prosperity in multiple aspects of life, notably in urban development, as various public buildings were constructed, and by the end of the era, telegraphs and postal services were introduced. By 1869, Nablus city’s first municipal council was established. Moreover, throughout Sultan Abdul-Hamid’s II reign, the Hijaz railway line, which connected Nablus to al-Madina al-Munawwara, was launched in 1876, therefore the Transportation was advanced.

With the onset of World War I in 1914, along with subsequent political events, including the Balfour Declaration, that promised a Jewish state in Palestine and the capture of Jerusalem in 1917, the British army captured Nablus on September 21, 1918. The British rule proceeded until 1950, when Jordan took control of the West Bank.

The duration of this period was brief, with Israeli forces capturing Nablus on June 5, 1967, during the Six-Day War, where also occurred the capture of the remaining Palestinian territories, the Syrian Golan Heights, and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula.

Political developments in Palestine and the Arab world persisted, leading to a worsening of conditions for the Palestinian people, both within and beyond the territories. The first Intifada, which started on December 9, 1987, is considered as one of the most major periods in the history of the Palestinian people within the territories. The instability proceeded until the last Israeli soldier withdrew from Nablus’s borders at midnight on December 11, 1995. Nevertheless, the provocative visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on September 28, 2000, sparked the outbreak of the Second Intifada. Starting in April 2000, Israeli forces bombed the quarters of the old city of Nablus and reoccupied the city. Unfortunately, due to the bombing, several historical structures were demolished. Despite all of that, the resilience and the determination of Nablus’s residents restored Nablus’s life and brought back its charm, transforming Nablus into a place full of life and beauty, where visitors enjoy its historical and cultural heritage