Syria, Jordan & Lebanon

Objective: To examine the history, culture, and current-day situation

of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Background: • Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon

all border Israel- all have been involved in conflicts

• Capital of Syria= Damascus- is possibly the oldest inhabited city on the world

• For centuries it was a center of trade (under Roman Empire)- becomes part of the Ottoman Empire 1500

• After WWI France controlled Syria

• 1940s becomes independent

History & Government: • 1971-2000 Led by dictator

Hafiz al-Assad – As Pres. He increases size of

military– Wants to match Israel’s

military strength & protect his rule from political enemies

– 2000 Assad dies- his son Bashar al-Assad elected Pres. • He had goals of improving

economy

• Syria has a socialist govt. (owns countries oil refineries, large electrical plants, railroads and some factories)

Syria’s People & Economy:

• Pop. More than 18 million- 90% Arab

• Other 10 % are Kurds and Armenians

• 74% of Syrians are Sunni Muslims

• 16 % are Druze and Alawite sects (small branches of Islam)

• Other: – 10 % are Christian – Some small Jewish

communities

Economy: • Key manufactured goods: textiles, foods products, & chemicals) • Importance of agriculture (only

small oil & natural gas) Iron ore, Basalt, & phosphates

“The UN Has Failed on Syria?”

• 12 March 2012 Last updated at 11:14 ET• British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UN

Security Council has ''failed'' in the eyes of most of the world in its responsibilities to the people of Syria.

• Mr Hague, who was chairing a UN debate on the Middle East in New York, said it was time for the Security Council to ''show unity and to show leadership''.

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17341335

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17347708

Lebanon:

•Is a small mountainous country on Med. Coast home to several groups of people

Lebanon’s History & People: • Under Ottoman Empire many

religious & ethnic minority groups • After WWI France controlled Syria

and Lebanon • Same as Syria gain indep. 1940s • Some aspects of Fr. Culture

influence Lebanese culture – Lebanese speak Arabic and

some speak French – People are Arab but divided by

religion (Most are Muslim or Christian) & each have small divisions within

– Muslims: Sunni, Shia, and Druze * Muslims are the largest group

– Maronites = largest Christian group

•  

Lebanon’s Civil War Today: • Decades after indep. Christian and

Muslims are sharing power • Before- different positions held by

different groups – Pres. Was a Maronite – Tensions increase

• Added to tension of thousands of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon

• Ethnic and religious groups armed themselves (1970s fighting broke out)

• Wars last til 1990; thousands die • Capital of Beirut was badly damaged &

finally rebuilding today • During 1990s Lebanese economy slowly

recovered from Civil War– Today industries include: Food

processing, textiles, cement, chemicals, and jewelry making

Jordan:

•has a short history with lots of conflict

Jordan: History & Govt.

• Jordan created after WWI – Brit controlled & name

Arab prince as monarch – 1940 gain indep. Small

population – Most people nomadic/

semi-nomadic – 100s of thousands of

refugees flee Israel to live in Jordan

– 1952-1999 ruled by King Hussein some demo. reform 1990s

People & Resources: • Many of Jordan’s pple are Bedouins

(Arabic-speaking Nomads who mostly live in the deserts of SW Asia)

• Jordan produces phosphates, cement, and potash

• Tourism and banking are important industries

• Jordan depends on economic aid from oil-rich Arab nations & US

• Amman- capital = Jordan’s largest city

• Jordanian farmers grow fruits and vegetables & raise sheep and goats

• Shortage of water- crucial resource issue for Jordan