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Syria is a country in turmoil, making headlines almost daily with news about its violent civil war and refugee crisis.
This one-volume addition to the
Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations series focuses on the events in the history of Syria from ancient times to the present, allowing readers to place current events within the context of the country's history.
Following the series format, the book opens with a timeline of key events in Syria's history. An introductory chapter provides a broad overview of life in Syria today. Chronologically arranged chapters follow, beginning with Prehistory to the Byzantine Period. The latter half of the volume focuses on the modern historic events that have occurred since World War II. A glossary of terms, an appendix of notable people, and an annotated bibliography round out the work, making it an ideal resource for high school students, undergraduates, and other general readers who are looking for an introductory text on Syrian history.
List of contents
Series Foreword vii
by Frank W. Thackeray and John E. FindlingPreface
Timeline of Historical Events xv
1 Overview and Introduction to Syrian History 1
2 Prehistory to the Byzantine Period 13
3 Rise of Islam to the Ottoman Conquest 37
4 Ottoman Period until the 18th Century 63
5 Later Ottoman Period until the Tanzimat 73
6 The 19th Century 85
7 From 1900 to World War II 95
8 World War II to 1970109
9 Hafiz al-Asad's Syria: 1970-2000 119
10 Bashar al-Asad's Syria: 2000-Present 135
Notable People in the History of Syria 151
Glossary 189
Bibliographic Essay 193
Index 203
About the author
John A. Shoup is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. He is also the author of
Culture and Customs of Jordan (Greenwood, 2007).
