The Syrian Arab Republic is located in Western Asia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. While Damascus is its capital, Aleppo is its largest city. Both are among the oldest continuously populated cities in world history. The historical Levant region was a cultural center of the Neolithic period since around 10,000 BC. Due to its location between Mesopotamia, Egypt and Anatolia, many great empires left their mark on the area in ancient times. In 64 BC, Syria was conquered by the Roman Republic and, along with Egypt, was the most economically important Roman province. After the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. From 1516 to 1918, Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I, the country was merged with Lebanon to form a French League of Nations Mandate in 1922. Syria gained independence from France in 1946. Significant oil deposits were discovered in 1956, and the oil trade became the country's largest economic sector.
Facts
- Capital: Damascus
- Largest city: Aleppo
- Official language: Arabic
- Area: 187,437 km² (72,370 sq mi)
- Population: 23,865,423 (2024 estimate)
- Independence from France: 17th April 1946 (recognized)
The oldest musical notations in the world
During the Bronze Age, the city of Ugarit in northwestern Syria flourished as an important cultural and commercial center. The Ugaritic alphabet, which was developed from 1400 or 1300 BC, is considered to be the oldest alphabet in the world. It consists of 30 letters and was discovered in 1928 in the form of cuneiform clay tablets. The oldest known musical notations, the so-called Hurrian Hymns, also originate from Ugarit and were probably composed in the 14th century BC. The most important of these is the hymn to the goddess Nikkal, as it is the only one to have survived almost completely. It can still be played today. The kingdom of Ugarit, like many other cultures in the eastern Mediterranean, experienced its downfall in the 12th century BC in the course of the much-debated invasions of the so-called "Sea Peoples" and the associated collapse of the Late Bronze Age.
While the Assyrians introduced Aramaic as a lingua franca in the Middle East after their conquest in the 9th and 8th centuries BC, the current name of Syria is probably not derived from them. It most likely comes from the Seleucid rulers who succeeded Alexander the Great in 323 BC and called themselves the "kings of Syria". However, they did not distinguish between the Assyrians in Mesopotamia and the Arameans in the Levant.
Under Roman rule
Under Roman rule, Syria was the scene of many battles with its constant rival, Persia. Due to its location on the Silk Road and its large population, it was one of the most important provinces of the empire. In addition to the world-renowned ruined city of Palmyra, other impressive buildings are reminiscent of the era, such as the Roman Theatre in Bosra or the Temple of Jupiter in Damascus. Between 193 AD and 198 AD, the province of Syria was divided into Coele Syria and Syria Phoenice. A number of famous Roman rulers came from Syria: the wife of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, as well as the emperors Elagabalus, Alexander Severus and Philippus Arabs.
During the Crusades
Syria is also home to some spectacular medieval fortresses, such as the "Krak des Chevaliers" (Fortress of the Knights). Located on a hill in the Homs Gap, it was of great strategic importance during the Crusades and is one of the best-preserved castles in the world. Its current structure was built in 1170 by the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem). Since 2006, the Krak des Chevalier, together with the Castle of Saladin (Qal'at Salah Ed-Din) further north, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
