| | Need to Know | Capital City Damascus | | Tipping Not mandatory | | Electricity 220 V | | Weights and Measurements Metric system |
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Sneak Preview
From the Euphrates to the Mediterranean, every part of Syria has been touched by history. A land of Biblical tribes, Syria’s most beautiful legends were born where the sand has turned to stone. Home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the country has a diverse variety of both historical and archaeological sites, from ruins of the great Greek, Roman and Byzantine Empires, to the legacies of the Nabateans and the Palmyrans, the Crusaders, Marmalukes and Ottoman Turks. If you are looking for adventure and thrills, Syria has many resorts along the Mediterranean coast and water sports are yours for the asking.
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Historically Speaking
In ancient times, Syria included the present day Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and modern Syria. The civilization dates as far back as 9000 BC. Its coastal towns were important Phoenician trading posts due to their strategic locations. It was repeatedly invaded and conquered by the Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians and Romans. In 636 AD, the Arab Muslims won the Battle of Yarmouk and incorporated the whole area into their Islamic empire. The Christians also conquered this area during the Crusades and the Ottoman Turks ruled it from 1516 to 1918. All these civilizations had their impact upon Syrian history and culture.
During World War I, Syria was offered independence in return for helping the Allies (Britain and France) against Turkey, but the Allies secretly concluded the Sykes-Picot agreement (1919) and they divided the Arab lands between themselves. When present day Syria and Lebanon came under French rule, many anti French rebellions prevailed in Syria between 1920 to World War II. After France surrendered to Germany in 1940, Syria was granted independence by the Free French Forces in 1941. Though the French attempted to control Syria, the nation became fully independent in 1946.
After independence, Syria joined the Arab League in preventing the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, and fought the 1948 war against the newly formed independent state of Israel. Internally, Syria was subjected to the rule of several military dictators. The nation merged with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic (UAR) in 1958, under the presidency of President Nasser. Anti UAR forces staged a coup and Syria once again became independent in 1961. After many more coups General Assad of the Ba’ath Party seized power in 1970. Meanwhile the border tensions with the Israelis resulted in the Six Day War in 1967, when Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria. The Yom Kippur War in 1973 further aggravated the Syrian-Israeli relations. The peace talks between the two countries are dragging and stability is uncertain till today.
Since 1971, Assad has
ruthlessly controlled Syria. In 1992, he was elected (once again) to a fourth seven-year term with a predictable 99.9% majority. Assad rules with the help of the so-called National Progressive Front, a Ba’ath dominated body of allied parties. During the last years of his rule Syria earned a reputation as a state supporting international terrorism, which it is now trying to change. General Assad died in June 2000 and was succeeded by his son Basher Assad.
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Habitat
Syria has an area of 185,000 sq km, a little more than half the size of Italy. It is bordered by Lebanon in the southwest, Jordan in the south, Iraq in the east and Turkey in the north. Syria has four geographical regions –
1. A fertile 180 km long coastal strip in the west, between Lebanon and Turkey;
2. The Jebel an-Nusariyah, an impenetrable mountain range (between Lebanon and Syria) which runs north to south inland from the coast side by side with the Anti Lebanon Mountains;
3. The cultivated steppes (part of the Syrian plateau), with the Euphrates flowing through it, that curves along the inland side of the mountain range and also includes the major Syrian towns of Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Qamishle; and
4. The stony Syrian Desert region in the southeast.
Wild grass and shrubs such as tamarisk and buckthorn grow along the coastal strip and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains contain forests of Aleppo pine and Syrian oak. Much of Syria's arable areas have been stripped of their natural vegetation. Mammals native to Syria include the antelope, gazelle, wildcat, deer, squirrel, hare and porcupine. Bird life consists of the pelican, flamingo, ostrich, bustard, falcon and eagle. The desert areas support the chameleon and various lizards.
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