France established the states of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus is the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic; it is also the country's largest city, following the decline in population of Aleppo due to the battle for the city. It is colloquially known in Syria as aš-Šām and titled the "City of Jasmine". In addition to being one of the oldest continuously i…
How did the French take over Syria and Lebanon?
In 1920, the French were given a Mandate over Syria and Lebanon; a new type of colonialism which looked towards an eventual independence and self-governance of the territory. French troops invaded and took control of the region.
Why is France engaged in the Syrian Civil War?
Because of its legacy of the Mandate for Syria and Lebanon and the French occupation of Syria, France has been heavily engaged with the country for decades. Prior to the Syrian Civil War, France had historically been a major supplier of weapons and equipment to Syria.
How was Syria liberated from Vichy France?
The French Mandate of Syria came under the control of “Vichy France” on July 10, 1940. Henri Dentz was appointed as Vichy French High Commissioner for Syria on December 6, 1940. “Free French” troops and British troops liberated Syria from Vichy France on June 14, 1941.
How long did the French rule last in Syria?
These arrangements put an end to roughly 400 years of Ottoman rule in the region. The French reign led to uprisings and revolts among the people in Syria. From 1925 to 1927, Syrians united against the French occupation in what’s now known as the Great Syrian Revolt.
When did the French come to Syria?
Franco-Syrian WarSyrian soldiers at Maysalun, 1920Date March 8, 1920 – July 25, 1920 Location Syria and OETA Result French victory Establishment of French Syria King Faisal expelled to IraqBelligerentsFrench Republic West AfricaKingdom of Syria Arab militias7 more rows
When did France get out of Syria?
Levant CrisisDate19 May – 19 July 1945LocationFrench Mandate for Syria and the LebanonResultBritish-enforced ceasefire French withdrawal from the Levant Syria gains full independence
How long did the French stay in Syria?
The State of Damascus was a French mandate from 1920 to 1925.
Do they speak French in Syria?
The present-day civil war and the exodus that it has produced make it difficult to estimate the number of speakers of various languages in Syria. However, it appears that despite a brief French occupation, French language is not used much in Syria. There are fewer than 4,500 French speakers at the present day.
What did France do to Syria?
Franco-Syrian War The French immediately dissolved the local Arab governments in the region, with France demanding full implementation of the Sykes–Picot Agreement, with Syria under its control. On 14 July 1920, General Henri Gourard gave King Faisal the choice between submission or abdication.
How many Syrian refugees did France take?
We are interested in your experience using the site. Between 2014 and 2020, France registered 25,195 first-time asylum applicants from Syria, while Germany registered more than 633,000, though most of Syrian refugees remained in neighboring countries such as Turkey or Lebanon.
Who does France support in Syria?
Support Syrian refugees, Help countries hosting Syrian refugees. France's financial effort for 2019-2021 will total over €1 billion for the Syrian populations in situations of humanitarian distress, refugees and host countries, particularly Lebanon and Jordan.
How many French soldiers died in Syria?
2,000 French soldiersSeveral thousand individuals, including some 2,000 French soldiers and 6,000 Syrian rebels, were killed during the conflict. Some 100,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.
What was the French mandate for Syria?
In June 1920 a French ultimatum demanding Syrian recognition of the mandate was followed by a French occupation and the expulsion in July of Fayṣal. In July 1922 the League of Nations approved the texts of the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon. Lebanon had already, in August 1920, been declared a separate state, with the addition of Beirut, Tripoli, and certain other districts, to the prewar autonomous province. Politically, “Syria” henceforth acquired a narrower meaning; it referred to what was left of geographical Syria once Transjordan, Lebanon, and Palestine had been detached from it.
Who occupied Syria in 1946?
From then until 1946, Syria was jointly occupied by British and French forces. At the moment of invasion, the Free French had proclaimed Syrian and Lebanese independence, and this was underwritten by the British government, which recognized French predominance in Syria and Lebanon, provided France carry out its promise of independence. In the interests of its Arab policy, Britain used its position of strength to persuade the Free French to carry out their undertaking. Elections held in 1943 resulted in a nationalist victory, and Shukri al-Quwatli became president of the republic.
Why was it so difficult to prepare Syria for self-government?
It was more difficult to prepare Syria for self-government because of the difference between French and Syrian conceptions of what was implied. Most French officials and statesmen thought in terms of a long period of control.
What happened in 1940 in Syria?
In June 1940, after the Franco-German armistice, the French in Syria announced that they would cease hostilities against Germany and Italy and recognize the Vichy government. Political uncertainty and the growing scarcity of goods and rising prices caused unrest, which was led by one of the prominent nationalists, Shukri al-Quwatli. In May 1941 the Vichy government allowed German aircraft to land and refuel en route to Iraq, and in June, British, Commonwealth, and Free French forces invaded Syria. French troops resisted for a month, but Damascus was occupied on June 21, and hostilities ceased at midnight on July 11–12.
What was the impact of the Arab intervention in Palestine against the newly created State of Israel in May 1948?
Early years of independence. The humiliating failure of the Arab intervention in Palestine against the newly created State of Israel in May 1948 brought serious discredit to the governments of the Arab countries involved, but nowhere more than in Syria.
What was the French mandatory administration?
The French mandatory administration carried out much constructive work. Roads were built; town planning was carried out and urban amenities were improved; land tenure was reformed in some districts; and agriculture was encouraged, particularly in the fertile Al-Jazīrah.
What was the mandate of France?
The mandate placed on France the responsibility of creating and controlling an administration, of developing the resources of the country, and of preparing it for self-government. A number of local governments were set up: one for the Al-Anṣariyyah Mountains region, where the majority belonged to the ʿAlawite sect, one for the Jabal al-Durūz region, where most of the inhabitants were Druzes, and eventually one for the rest of Syria, with its capital at Damascus.
When did France establish Syria?
France established the Syrian Federation on July 1, 1922, comprising the Damascus state, Aleppo state, and autonomous Alawite territory. Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi was elected president of the Syrian Federation. The League of Nations ( LoN) Council formally approved the French Mandate of Syria on July 24, 1922.
When did France take control of Syria?
French troops took control of the city of Damascus on July 25, 1920. King Faisal Hussein formally relinquished the throne of Syria on July 25, 1920. France established the states of Damascus and Aleppo, along with the autonomous Alawite territory, within the French Mandate of Syria on December 1, 1920. France established the autonomous Druze ...
What was the conflict between the French and the Druze?
Conflict Phase (July 18, 1925-June 1, 1927): Druze tribesmen led by Sultan Pasha el-Attrash rebelled against the French government in the Souaida state beginning on July 18, 1925, and Druze rebels took control of the town of Salkhad on July 20, 1925. Druze rebels ambushed some 160 French-led troops commanded by Captain Gabriel Normand near Al-Kafr (Kafer) on July 21, 1925, resulting in the deaths of some 115 French soldiers. Some 500 Druze rebels and Bedouin tribesmen commanded by Sultan al-Atrash attacked French government troops near the town of Al-Mazra’a on August 2-3, 1925, resulting in the deaths of some 600 French soldiers. Some 600 French troops commanded by Major Kratzert occupied the village of Al-Musayfirah (Mousseifré) on September 15, 1925. Druze rebels attacked French troops in the village of Al-Musayfirah (Mousseifré) on September 16-17, 1925, resulting in the deaths of 47 French soldiers and more than 300 Druze rebels. French troops withdrew from the city of Al-Suwayda (Soueida), the capital of the Jabal al-Druze state, on September 24, 1925. French government troops suppressed a rebellion led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji in Hama in the state of Damascus on October 4-5, 1925, resulting in the deaths of 344 civilians and 76 Syrian rebels. Druze rebels commanded by Hassan al-Kharrat and Nasib al-Bakri attacked French troops and took control of the Damascus on October 18, 1925. French military force bombarded Damascus on October 18-20, 1925, resulting in the deaths of 1,416 civilians and 137 French soldiers. Some 15,000 individuals were displaced as a result of the bombardment of Damascus. The French government declared martial law in Damascus on October 20, 1925. Druze rebels captured Hasbaya on November 9, 1925, but French troops recaptured the city on December 5, 1925. President Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi resigned on December 21, 1925. Henry de Jouvenel was appointed as French High Commissioner for Syria on December 23, 1925. French government troops re-captured Al-Suwayda (Soueida) on April 25, 1926. Ahmad Nami was elected as president of the State of Syria on April 28, 1926. French troops clashed with Druze rebels in the Maydan (Midan) quarter of Damascus on May 6, 1926, resulting in the deaths of several French soldiers. French military forces bombarded the Maydan (Midan) quarter of Damascus on May 7-9, 1926, resulting in the deaths of some 500 civilians and 100 Druze rebels. French troops launched a military offensive against Druze rebels in the Ghuta region on July 18-26, 1926, resulting in the deaths of some 1,500 individuals. Auguste Henri Ponsot was appointed as French High Commissioner for Syria in August 1926. French troops suppressed the Druze rebellion on June 1, 1927. Several thousand individuals, including some 2,000 French soldiers and 6,000 Syrian rebels, were killed during the conflict. Some 100,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.
What was the crisis in Syria?
Crisis Phase (July 2, 1919-July 17, 1925): Syrian nationalists, meeting in Damascus on July 2, 1919, called for the independence of the Syrian territory from France. French troops took control of the Syrian territory on September 15, 1919, and General Henri Gouraud was named French High Commissioner for on October 9, 1919. Syrian nationalists rebelled against the French government beginning in December 1919. Syrian nationalists declared Syria’s independence on March 8, 1920, and proclaimed Faisal Hussein as King of Syria on March 11, 1920. During the San Remo Conference held in San Remo, Italy on April 19-26, 1920, the Supreme Council of Allied Powers (SCAP) assigned a mandate over the Syrian territory to the French government. On July 14, 1920, General Henri Gouraud issued a surrender ultimatum to King Faisal Hussein, who shortly surrendered to French authorities. French troops took control of the city of Aleppo on July 23, 1920. French troops commanded by General Mariano Goybet clashed with Syrian rebels commanded by Yusuf al-‘Azma near the town of Maysalun on July 23-24, 1920, resulting in the deaths of some 400 Syrian rebels and 42 French soldiers. French troops took control of the city of Damascus on July 25, 1920. King Faisal Hussein formally relinquished the throne of Syria on July 25, 1920. France established the states of Damascus and Aleppo, along with the autonomous Alawite territory, within the French Mandate of Syria on December 1, 1920. France established the autonomous Druze territory in the southern part of the state of Damascus on May 1, 1921. French troops suppressed a rebellion in the Alawite state led by Shaykh Saleh al-Ali on June 15, 1921. On March 4, 1922, the French government transformed the autonomous Druze territory into the Souaida state (Jabal Druze state). Government police suppressed Syrian nationalist demonstrations in Damascus on April 8-12, 1922, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. France established the Syrian Federation on July 1, 1922, comprising the Damascus state, Aleppo state, and autonomous Alawite territory. Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi was elected president of the Syrian Federation. The League of Nations ( LoN) Council formally approved the French Mandate of Syria on July 24, 1922. General Maxime Weygand was named French High Commissioner for Syria on April 19, 1923. The League of Nations Mandate of Syria and Lebanon under French Administration formally entered into force on September 23, 1923. General Maurice Sarrail was named French High Commissioner for Syria on November 29, 1924. The French government dissolved the Syrian Federation, and combined the states of Damascus and Aleppo to form the State of Syrian on January 1, 1925. The People’s Party ( Hizb al-sha’b ), a Syrian nationalist group headed by Abd al-Rahman Shahbandar and Faris al-Khuri, was formally established on June 5, 1925. On July 11, 1925, government police arrested three Druze sheikhs in Damascas and imprisoned the sheikhs in Palmyra in central Syria.
When did the French government turn the Druze territory into a Souaida state?
French troops suppressed a rebellion in the Alawite state led by Shaykh Saleh al-Ali on June 15, 1921. On March 4, 1922, the French government transformed the autonomous Druze territory into the Souaida state (Jabal Druze state).
How many demonstrators were killed in the war in Syria?
Three demonstrators were killed by government troops in Homs on February 8, 1936. Five demonstrators were killed by government police in Dayr al-Zur on February 10, 1936. The French government declared martial law in Damascus on February 10, 1936, and declared martial law in Aleppo, Homs, and Hama on February 12, 1936.
When did the French withdraw from the city of Al-Suwayda?
French troops withdrew from the city of Al-Suwayda (Soueida), the capital of the Jabal al-Druze state, on September 24, 1925. French government troops suppressed a rebellion led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji in Hama in the state of Damascus on October 4-5, 1925, resulting in the deaths of 344 civilians and 76 Syrian rebels.
How did France and Syria get independence?
Syria and France negotiated a treaty of independence in September 1936. France agreed to Syrian independence in principle although maintained French military and economic dominance. Hashim al-Atassi, who had been Prime Minister under King Faisal's brief reign, was the first president to be elected under a new constitution, effectively the first incarnation of the modern republic of Syria. However, the treaty never came into force because the French Legislature refused to ratify it. With the fall of France in 1940 during World War II, Syria came under the control of Vichy France until the British and Free French occupied the country in the Syria-Lebanon campaign in July 1941. Syria proclaimed its independence again in 1941, but it was not until 1 January 1944 that it was recognised as an independent republic. There were protests in 1945 over the slow pace of French withdrawal. The French responded to these protests with artillery. In an effort to stop the movement toward independence, French troops occupied the Syrian parliament in May 1945 and cut off Damascus's electricity. Training their guns on Damascus's old city, the French killed 400 Syrians and destroyed hundreds of homes. With casualties mounting Winston Churchill ordered British troops to invade Syria where they escorted French troops to their barracks on 1 June. With continuing pressure from the British and Syrian nationalist groups the French were forced to evacuate the last of their troops in April 1946, leaving the country in the hands of a republican government that had been formed during the mandate.
Who occupied Syria?
From the third millennium BCE, Syria was occupied and fought over successively by Sumerians, Eblaites, Akkadians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hittites, Hurrians, Mitanni, Amorites and Babylonians. The world's first alphabet from the ancient city-state of Ugarit, northern Syria. 15th century BCE. The ancient city of Ugarit.
What is the history of Syria?
The history of Syria covers events which occurred on the territory of the present Syrian Arab Republic and events which occurred in the region of Syria. The present Syrian Arab Republic spans territory which was first unified in the 10th century BCE under the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the capital of which was the city of Assur, ...
How many cabinets did Syria have?
Syrian politics from independence through the late 1960s were marked by upheaval. Between 1946 and 1956, Syria had 20 different cabinets and drafted four separate constitutions. In 1948, Syria was involved in the Arab–Israeli War, aligning with the other local Arab states who wanted to destroy the state of Israel.
What provinces did Syria split into?
Syria Prima, with the capital remaining at Antioch, and Syria Secunda, with its capital moving to Apamea on the Orontes, and the new province of Theodorias, with Laodicea as its capital.
When did Syria and Egypt merge?
On 21 February 1958, however, Syria merged with Egypt to create the United Arab Republic after plebiscitary ratification of the merger by both countries' nations, but seceded from it in 1961, thereby recovering its full independence.
Where are the oldest human remains in Syria?
On 23 August 1993 a joint Japan-Syria excavation team discovered fossilized Paleolithic human remains at the Dederiyeh Cave some 400 km north of Damascus. The bones found in this massive cave were those of a Neanderthal child, estimated to have been about two years old, who lived in the Middle Palaeolithic era (ca. 200,000 to 40,000 years ago). Although many Neanderthal bones had been discovered already, this was practically the first time that an almost complete child's skeleton had been found in its original burial state.
What was the name of the revolt that led to the French occupation of Syria?
From 1925 to 1927, Syrians united against the French occupation in what’s now known as the Great Syrian Revolt.
When did Syria become part of the Byzantine Empire?
When the Roman Empire fell, Syria became part of the Eastern or Byzantine Empire. In 637 A.D., Muslim armies defeated the Byzantine Empire and took control of Syria. The Islamic religion spread quickly throughout the region, and its different factions rose to power.
What is the Syrian Civil War?
Syrian Civil War. Syrian Refugees. Sources: Syria is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, with a rich artistic and cultural heritage. From its ancient roots to its recent political instability and the Syrian Civil War, the country has a complex and, at times, tumultuous history.
What happened to the protests in Syria?
Peaceful protests broke out in Syria after the graffiti incident and became widespread. Assad and the Syrian government responded by arresting and killing hundreds of protestors and their family members.
How many people died in Syria in 2012?
But by 2012, Syria was engulfed in a full-blown civil war. Estimates vary, but according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 321,000 people have been killed since the start of the war or are missing. Hundreds of people were killed outside of Damascus in 2013 during a chemical weapons attack.
How many Syrian refugees are there?
According to the nonprofit organization World Vision, more than 11 million Syrians—roughly half of the country’s population—have been displaced from their homes as of April 2017.
How old is the oldest human body in Syria?
The oldest human remains found in Syria date back to roughly 700,000 years ago . Archeologists have uncovered skeletons and bones of Neanderthals that lived in the region during this period.
How has regional conflict affected migration patterns in Syria?
Regional conflict has affected migration patterns in the country. Much of the population of the Golan Heights was expelled to other parts of Syria after Israel took control of the region in 1967; many, along with their descendants , continue to be internally displaced.
What are the four traditional regions of Syria?
Traditional regions. Syria’s four traditional regions are the coastal strip, the mountains, the cultivated steppe, and the desert steppe. On the coast the fertile alluvial plains are intensively cultivated in both summer and winter. The region is the site of Syria’s two principal ports of Latakia (Al-Lādhiqiyyah) and Ṭarṭūs.
What is the name of the two major ports in Syria?
The region is the site of Syria’s two principal ports of Latakia (Al-Lādhiqiyyah) and Ṭarṭūs. The area around the northwestern Al-Anṣariyyah Mountains is the only densely forested region. It is the ancient stronghold of the Nuṣayrīs, or ʿAlawites, who form a sect of Shīʿite Islam.
What is the agricultural area of Syria?
The cultivated steppe region constitutes the principal wheat zone; agriculture is intensively pursued along the banks of the rivers. Some of Syria’s most important cities—Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Ḥamāh, and Al-Qāmishlī—are situated there.
How old was Syria in the 21st century?
At the beginning of the 21st century, Syria’s population was on the whole quite young: nearly one-third of Syrians were under age 15 and more than one-fourth between 15 and 30 years old. Syria: Age breakdown Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
What enabled the cities to maintain their economic and cultural supremacy under the four centuries of Ottoman rule?
The continuation of old commercial and religious interests enabled the cities to maintain their economic and cultural supremacy under the four centuries of Ottoman rule. Following a period of rapid urbanization in the 1950s and ’60s, rural-to-urban migration abated somewhat.
Where is Damascus located?
Damascus, Syria. Located between the Orontes and Euphrates rivers, Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, is a trade and light-industry centre. The city is well served by roads and railroads and is surrounded by an area that specializes in the production of sheep for market in Damascus and other countries.
What was the name of the war between France and Syria?
The Franco-Syrian War took place during 1920 between the Hashemite rulers of the newly established Arab Kingdom of Syria and France. During a series of engagements, which climaxed in the Battle of Maysalun, French forces defeated the forces of the Hashemite monarch King Faisal, and his supporters, entering Damascus on July 24, 1920.
How many states were there in Syria?
The mandate region was subdivided into six states. They were the State of Damascus (1920), State of Aleppo (1920), Alawite State (1920), Jabal Druze (1921), the autonomous Sanjak of Alexandretta (1921) (modern-day Hatay in Turkey) and the State of Greater Lebanon (1920), which became later the modern country of Lebanon .
When did Syria become independent?
In the aftermath of the Clemenceau negotiations in January 1920, violent attacks against French forces occurred sporadically across Syria and effectively the Syrian Congress assembled in March 1920 to declare Faisal the king of Syria, as well as to officially set up the Arab Kingdom of Syria with Hashim al-Atassi as Prime Minister. An independent Arab Kingdom of Syria was proclaimed in Damascus on March 8, 1920, in an apparent dispute with the French over the nature of its rule.
When did Syria become a monarchy?
On July 2, 1919 , the Syrian Congress passed a number of resolutions pertaining to the formation of Syria as a completely independent constitutional monarchy with Faisal as king, asking for assistance from the United States, and the refusal of any rights claimed by the French.
When was the first Syrian Congress held?
The first official session of the Syrian Congress was held on June 3, 1919 and al-Fatat member Hashim al-Atassi was elected its president. On June 25, the King-Crane Commission arrived in Damascus to a flurry of leaflets which said “Independence or Death”.
Who captured Damascus?
Near the end of World War I, the Egyptian Expeditionary forces of Edmund Allenby captured Damascus on September 30, 1918, and shortly thereafter on October 3, 1918, Hashemite ruler Faisal entered Damascus as well, in the final stages of the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans. On October 5, 1918, with the permission of General Allenby, Faisal announced the establishment of an Arab constitutional government in Damascus .
Who led the French forces to the Battle of Maysalun?
Although he had no illusions about the outcome of the battle, al-'Azma wanted to make it clear that Syria would not surrender without fighting, in order to deny the French occupation any legitimacy. The Battle of Maysalun resulted in a crushing Syrian defeat. The French forces under the command of General Mariano Goybet easily defeated the Syrian forces. Yusuf al-'Azma was killed in the battle.
Where was the last settlement in the Yarmouk Basin?
The last phase of the settlements was in Yarmouk Basin area on September 28 in the town of Tsil, which lasted for two days.
Where did the settlements of Daraa reach?
The settlements reached the western countryside of Daraa through the towns of al-Yadudah and al-Muzayrib, following agreement among the Central Committee in the western region and the notables of the region with the government security services in the presence of the Russian military police.
How many civilians were in the settlement of Nawa?
On September 30, the status of 291 civilians and 51 military residents of Nawa, Sheikh Saad, Adwan, Sukkariyeh and Jubailiya were settled. During the settlement, dozens of light weapons were handed over.
Where was the center of the Yarmouk Basin?
On September 26, a center was established to settle the situations of wanted persons in the town of Shajara, the center of the Yarmouk Basin area. The settlement included the villages of Koya, Mariya, and al-Qusayr. All of these villages are on the Syrian-Jordanian-Israeli border strip.
How does France continue to fight in Syria?
Continue to fight terrorism alongside our partners from the International Coalition against Daesh. 2.
What is France's goal in Syria?
Through its efforts together will all of its partners working in Syria, France is encouraging the resumption of negotiations to facilitate an exit to the crisis.
What support is France providing for civilian populations in difficulty?
The humanitarian situation in Syria has continued to get worse since the beginning of the conflict:
What is the International Independent Enquiry Mechanism on Syria?
The creation of the International Independent Enquiry Mechanism on Syria by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016 was an important step forward in identifying those responsible for these crimes by facilitating enquiries, particularly by preserving evidence and sharing expert data. France also supports work by certain Syrian NGOs to collect evidence on the ground.
What is Bashar Al-Assad's regime guilty of?
Since 2011, Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has been guilty of repeated violations of the most fundamental rights, some of which may be considered war crimes and crimes against humanity. In response, France is committed to ensuring the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable in court.
When did France start the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons?
It is with this in mind that France initiated, in January 2018 , the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons.
Is France fully mobilized to respond to the emergency that the populations in Syria itself are facing?
France is fully mobilized to respond to the emergency that the populations in Syria itself are facing, through bilateral assistance and within the framework of the European Union.
Syria and The French Connection
But How Did We Get Here?
- Making sense of France’s long and tortured history in Syria requires a big step back. Back to the Ottoman Empire. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, France was left with a problem. France had remained as the largest investor in the empire, with double the investments of its nearest European rival, Germany. With the Ottoman bankruptcy in 1875, France had obtain…
France’s Own African Colonial Army
- France has long used surrogate foreign troops throughout its colonial and post-colonial spheres of influence throughout Africa and the Levant. The largest contingent of foreign troops commanded by the French were those raised from its African colonies. Beginning in 1857, French colonialists created an army from Africans living in the several states composing the AOF (Fren…
France and A Fractured Syria
- The French state has claimed a long relationship with the Christian Maronite community in Lebanon, and the Alawi, a minority offshoot, in Syria. The consequences of this can be seen in today’s problems. The al-Assad clique, which runs Syria, are Alawis, followers of an Ismaili belief system that incorporates aspects of both Shi’a and Sunni Islam and some Christian beliefs. Ala…
The Wrath of Assad
- The Syrian Baathists, after its founding, had soon given up any notion of Arab socialism and Syria became a corrupt police state. By 1982, Hafez Assad banned all other political parties except the Baath. He had them ruthlessly dissolved, with their leaders killed or subject to involuntary exile. The free press of Syria was outlawed. The only newspapers that were allowed into circulation w…
Great Power Interest in The Syrian Civil War
- France has a long relationship with the Christian Maronite community in Lebanon, and the Alawi, a minority offshoot, in Syria. The consequences of this can be seen in today’s problems. The empowerment of the Alawi in Syria, and the Maronite Christians and Druze in Lebanon, are a direct result of French neo-colonial administrations. The various Arab nationalist and fundamentalist g…
So Who Gets Stuck with The Bill?
- During the Arab Spring uprisings against Muammar Gaddafi, France had insisted that there be a no-fly zone over Libya. The French interpretation of UN Resolution 1973, which imposed a no-fly zone over the country, was bolder than either the US’s or the UK’s position. It also insisted on calling this a NATO operation. It used up almost all of its ammunition in the first weeks of the Li…
Overview
The history of Syria covers events which occurred on the territory of the present Syrian Arab Republic and events which occurred in the region of Syria. Throughout ancient times the territory of present Syrian Arab Republic was occupied and ruled by several empires, including the Sumerians, Mitanni, Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Arameans, Amorites, Persians, Greeks and Romans. Syria is considered to have emerged as an independent country f…
Modern history
In 1919, a short-lived dependent Kingdom of Syria was established under Emir Faisal I of the Hashemite dynasty, who later became the king of Iraq. In March 1920, the Syrian National Congress proclaimed Faisal as king of Syria "in its natural boundaries" from the Taurus mountains in Turkey to the Sinai desert in Egypt. However, his rule in Syria ended after only a few months following a clash between his Syrian Arab forces and French forces at the Battle of Maysalun. Fr…
Prehistory
The oldest remains found in Syria date from the Palaeolithic era (c.800,000 BCE). On 23 August 1993 a joint Japan-Syria excavation team discovered fossilized Paleolithic human remains at the Dederiyeh Cave some 400 km north of Damascus. The bones found in this massive cave were those of a Neanderthal child, estimated to have been about two years old, who lived in the Middle Palaeolithic era (ca. 200,000 to 40,000 years ago). Although many Neanderthal bones had been …
Ancient Near East
The ruins of Ebla, near Idlib in northern Syria, were discovered and excavated in 1975. Ebla appears to have been an East Semitic speaking city-state founded around 3000 BCE. At its zenith, from about 2500 to 2400 BCE, it may have controlled an empire reaching north to Anatolia, east to Mesopotamia and south to Damascus. Ebla traded with the Mesopotamian states of Sumer, Akkad and As…
Classical antiquity
In 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great, King of Achaemenid Persians, took Syria as part of his empire. Due to Syria's location on the Eastern Mediterranean coast, its navy fleet, and abundant forests, Persians showed great interest in easing control while governing the region. Thus, the indigenous Phoenicians paid a much lesser annual tribute which was only 350 talent compared to Egypt's tribute of 700 tale…
Medieval era
In 634–640, Syria was conquered by the Muslim Arabs in the form of the Rashidun army led by Khalid ibn al-Walid, resulting in the region becoming part of the Islamic empire. In the mid-7th century, the Umayyad dynasty, then rulers of the empire, placed the capital of the empire in Damascus. Syria was divided into four districts: Damascus, Homs, Palestine and Jordan. The Islamic empire expa…
Ottoman era
Ottoman Sultan Selim I conquered most of Syria in 1516 after defeating the Mamlukes at the Battle of Marj Dabiq near Aleppo. Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918, although with 2 brief captures by the Iranian Safavids, notably under Shah Ismail I and Shah Abbas. Ottoman rule was not burdensome to the Syrians because the Turks, as Muslims, respected Arabic a…
See also
• Abila
• Adib Shishakli
• Bilad al-Sham
• Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence (1936)
• Hashim al-Atassi