Syria
...between Lebanon and Turkey.
The modern nation of Syria did not exist until the 20th century, although the idea of Syria has been in existence since at least the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The name “Syria”, was first used by the Greeks, historically identifying the region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean lying between Egypt and Asia Minor. Greater Syria, the larger region (called this to distinguish it from the nation-state with the same name today), located at the crossroads of three continents, possesses a long and abounding history. It was an arena of conflict for centuries, serving as an invasion route for numerous armies and the battleground of neighboring empires. Waves of migration and invasion in ancient times and ever-changing religious and political groups made Greater Syria an entangled mix of religion and ethnic groups, often breeding conflict.
Damascus, the capital of Syria is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. It may have been settled for the first time as early as 2500 BCE. Over the centuries it was dominated by various civilizations including the Aramaean, Assyria, Babylonia, Persian, Greek, Roman, Nabataean, Byzantine, and Ottoman. In 636 CE Damascus came under Muslim rule and rose to its peak of power as the capital of the Umayyad Empire, which expanded fro India to Spain Lasting from 661 to 750.
After the decline of the Umayyads, Greater Syria fell to the power of the neighboring states and empires in Anatolia, Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Fatimid rulers of Egypt worked hard to spread Islam throughout Greater Syria, often through force. When Christian Crusaders arrived in the area to fight the Muslims, areas of Syria were split. Some fighting along side Muslims armies, while local Christian groups provided aide to their fellow brothers and sisters in God. This support from the local Christian...
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