SYRIA (continued)
Hightlights
Online Traveler Feedback
Photos/Videos
Photo Gallery
SURPRISING SYRIA
Syria is especially noted for its rich history, art, culture, and architecture, which encompass more than 7,000 years of civilization. Because of its role in developing writing, cities, trade, and social systems, it claims to be the cradle of civilization - as do other nations (Iraq, Iran, Egypt, China, and India).
If you love ancient history, impressive Roman ruins, picturesque Crusader castles, compelling medieval cities and markets, beautiful Islamic art and architecture, and energetic cities juxtaposing the old and new - all in a contemporary setting that includes a very friendly and hospitable people, great shopping, wonderful cuisines, fine hotels, enticing beaches, surprising entertainment, and colorful festivals - Syria's many places and people will enthrall you.
Indeed, many travelers report encountering a unique form of positive culture shock when visiting Syria - the shock of discovering so much culture in such a small place! It's like no other country in the world. Just make sure you plan enough time to enjoy its many treasures and pleasures.
HIGHLIGHTS
Living History, Many Cultures
This is a very ancient land with a rich and turbulent history of human settlements dating from 5,000 BC. Syria exudes a fascinating history of an important land, at the crossroads of trade and politics, occupied by neighboring empires (Hittite, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Islamic, and Turkish Ottoman). It has been variously ruled by Egyptians, Babylonians, Hittites, Chaldeans, Persians, Romans, Turks, and French, many of whom left their footprints behind in the form of massive stone structures (fortresses, amphitheaters, churches, mosques, colonnaded streets).
In many respects, Syria is a melting pot of many cultures, languages, religions, and political ideas. An important trade center along the ancient Silk Road, its many cities and fortifications testify to the important economic and political roles Syria played at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It only recently (1946) came into its own identity as a fully functioning independent nation-state.
While Greater Syria includes Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and present-day Syria, the country's current boundaries were largely mandated by outside powers. Indeed, foreseeing the defeat of the occupying Ottoman Turks during World War I, Great Britain collaborated with France in a secret deal (later formalized as the Sykes-Picot Agreement) to take over the Greater Syrian territories of the defeated Turks.
Outside powers continue to play an important role in shaping the economics and politics of this turbulent region.
Despite the Great Arab Revolt against the Turks in 1916 (made famous in the West by T.S. Lawrence and popularized in the movie Lawrence of Arabia) and the establishment of an independent government based in Damascus (1918), accordingly, in 1920 the British took over Israel and Jordan (Transjordan).
The French occupied Syria and Lebanon as its "sphere of influence" - eventually to be granted independence - in the name of the French mandate. The League of Nations subsequently legitimized this arrangement.
As the new colonial powers soon discovered, occupying Arab lands would not be a particularly rewarding experience. Indeed, the region frequently validated an ominous prediction for outside meddlers in local affairs – things can always get worse! Complicating matters was the role of the Allied powers in creating the Jewish state of Israel in a fractured region that was predominately Arab and Muslim.
Moreover, the British and French colonial legacies would be felt well into the 21st century as the unsettled political nature of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria remained important points of repeated contention.
The Western colonial era ended when Syria gained independence from France in 1946. Indeed, much of the region's recent political and military turbulence can be traced to arbitrary boundary decisions made by occupying Western colonial powers in the 20th century in reference to Greater Syria.
Many of these decisions were made with little regard to important ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions that define the area's sectarian communities.
In recent years Syria joined Egypt in forming the ill-fated United Arab Republic (1956-1963), lost the Golan Heights to Israel in the 1967 in the Six-Day War, and became deeply involved in regional conflicts with Israel, Lebanon, and Iraq.
When you visit Syria, you encounter numerous museums and monuments to the country's ancient history, from arguably the world's most impressive Crusader castle - Krak des Chevaliers - to the glorious Roman ruins at Palmyra, Syria's number one tourist attraction.
Impressive aging art and architecture co-exit in the midst of the cosmopolitan urban areas of Damascus and Aleppo. Here you'll encounter medieval architecture, walled cities, traditional markets, churches, mosques, French colonial buildings, and glorious Islamic Mulmuk (1260-1516) and Ottoman (1516-1918) architecture, all reflective of Syria's Christian, Muslim, and colonial pasts.
For quick overviews of Syrian history, visit these useful websites: www.arab.net/syria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Syria
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761569233_6/Syria.html#s25
www.syrianhistory.com
Area and Borders
Located in the southwest corner of Asia, Syria shares 2,253 kilometers of border with five countries and the Mediterranean Sea: Lebanon (375 kilometers) and the Mediterranean Sea on the west; Turkey (822 kilometers) on the north; Iraq (605 kilometers) on the east; and Israel (76 kilometers) and Jordan (375 kilometers) on the south.
Not including the Golan Heights, Syria covers a total area of 185,170 sq. km. (71,540 sq. mi.), including 1,295 sq. km. of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which is similar in size to Cambodia or the U.S. state of North Dakota. It's about half the size of Germany or Japan.
Population and Refugees
Syria's population of 19.4 million primarily consists of Arabs (90%) and Kurds (9%). Syria also is a temporary home for nearly 400,000 Palestinian and 1.4 million Iraqi refugees. Their presence in Syria is both a burden (public services) and a blessing (talented labor pool).
Religion
Syria has a reputation for religious diversity and tolerance. Nearly 90% of the population is Muslim, which consists of Sunnis (74%), Alawites (11%), Druze (3%), and other Muslim sects (2%).
Various Christian sects make up about 10% of the population. A tiny Jewish community resides in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo (known in Arabic as Halab).
Cities
Approximately 51% of Syria's population resides in urban areas. Its two largest cities - Damascus (4 million) and Aleppo (1.9 million) - are two of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. These vibrant commercial cities are filled with interesting historical and cultural sites, as well as fascinating traditional markets that offer travelers some wonderful shopping, cultural, and photographic experiences.
Other major cities include Homes (1.5 million), Hama (1.4 million), Idleb (1.3 million), al Hasakeh (1.2 million), Dayr al-Zur (1.1 million), Latakia (0.9 million), Dar'a (0.9 million), al-Raqqa (0.8 million), and Tartous (0.7 million).
ONLINE TRAVELER FEEDBACK
Visit this interesting collection of websites, forums, and blogs to find out what other travelers are currently saying about Syria:
www.virtualtourist.com
www.tripadvisor.com
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com
www.travelblog.org
www.travelblogs.com
www.travelpod.com
http://blogs.bootsnall.com
http://blog.realtravel.com
www.travbuddy.com
www.globenotes.com
http://blog.travelpost.com
While many of these sites represent the observations or “streams of consciousness” of young and inexperienced budget travelers who are still in the “wow!” and “I don’t miss home yet” stages of their lives, nonetheless, you may find some useful tips for planning your trip to Syria.
PHOTOS/VIDEOS
Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. There's nothing like a good visual to bring a country to life. Pictures also give you a sense of place before traveling to a new and unfamiliar destination.
For dramatic visual representations of Syria - especially its colorful peoples, cities, deserts, archeological ruins, castles, churches, wildlife, landscapes, sunsets, resorts, spas, and waters - we recommend doing the following: - View these videos on Syria, which are available through YouTube:
Syria
Syria, Part I
Syria, Part II
Syria
President Bashar Al-Assad
Syrian Women Speak on ABC News
Syrians Speak to ABC News
ABC News: Syrian Food Report
Damascus
Damascus, Part I
Damascus, Part II
Damascus: Crossroads of World's Religions
Refugees
Damascus (is in German)
Damascus, Bosra, Apamea, and Krak Des Chevaliers
Damascus in the Eyes of Diane Sawyer
AleppoAleppo
Souks of Aleppo
Bosra
Bosra
Bosra: Ancient Roman Theatre
Bosra, Krak Des Chevaliers
Palmyra
Maalula, Palmyra
Moyen-Orient Palmyra
Palmyra, Syria 2003
- Visit the photo galleries of these websites:
www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/syria
www.flickr.com/photos/tags/syria/clusters/
www.syriatourism.org
www.damascus-online.com
www.syriagate.com/gallery/iall01.htm
www.atlastours.net/gallery/syria
- Check on local and regional news, including many special features on Syria, through the popular English-language Arab news network, Aljazeera:
www.aljazeera.net/english
Click here to view our Syria Photo Gallery.
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