History of the Levant

The first cities started developing in southern Mesopotamia during the 4th millennium BC. With these ties of religion began to replace ties of kinship as the basis for society. Each city had a patron god, worshipped in a massive central temple called a ziggurat, and was ruled by a priest-king (ishakku). Society became more segmented and specialized and capable of coordinated projects like irrigation and warfare. Along with cities came a number of advances in technology. By around the 31st century BC, writing, the wheel, ...

See also:

History of the Levant, History of the Levant - The Stone age, History of the Levant - The Bronze age, History of the Levant - The Iron age, History of the Levant - The Classical empires, History of the Levant - The Islamic era, History of the Levant - The Ottoman Period and the 20th Century

Read more here: » History of the Levant: Encyclopedia II - History of the Levant - The Bronze age

The first cities started developing in southern Mesopotamia during the 4th millennium BC. With these ties of religion began to replace ties of kinship as the basis for society. Each city had a patron god, worshipped in a massive central temple called a ziggurat, and was ruled by a priest-king (ishakku). Society became more segmented and specialized and capable of coordinated projects like irrigation and warfare. Along with cities came a number of advances in technology. By around the 31st century BC, writing, the wheel, ...

See also:

History of the Levant, History of the Levant - The Stone age, History of the Levant - The Bronze age, History of the Levant - The Iron age, History of the Levant - The Classical empires, History of the Levant - The Islamic era, History of the Levant - The Ottoman period and the 20th century

Read more here: » History of the Levant: Encyclopedia II - History of the Levant - The Bronze age

Levant is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. The Levant does not include the Caucasus Mountains, any part of the Arabian Peninsula proper, or Anatolia — although at times Cilicia may be included. The Sinai Peninsula may also be included, but may be excluded as a marginal area forming a land bridge between the Levant and northern Egypt. ...

Read more here: » Levant: Encyclopedia - Levant

Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Only the radical Shi'a party Hizballah retains its weapons. Hizballah is dedicated to the creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon, and the removal of all non-Islamic influences from the area. Postwar social and political instability, fueled by economic uncertainty and the collapse ...

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History of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - 19th Century, History of Lebanon - The rise and fall of Emir Bashir II, History of Lebanon - Sectarian conflict: European Powers begin to intervene, History of Lebanon - Rising prosperity and peace, History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate, History of Lebanon - Independence, History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict, History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990, History of Lebanon - Initial outbreak 1975–76 and Syrian intervention, History of Lebanon - PLO and Israeli conflict Israeli intervention 1976–82, History of Lebanon - Israeli invasion and international intervention: 1982–84, History of Lebanon - Worsening conflict and political crisis: 1985–89, History of Lebanon - End of the Civil War: 1989–91, History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present, History of Lebanon - Continued Syrian military presence, History of Lebanon - 2004 Amendments to the Constitution, History of Lebanon - Assassination of Hariri 2005, History of Lebanon - Withdrawal of Syrian troops, History of Lebanon - Amnesty for Samir Geagea, History of Lebanon - Hariri Assassination Investigations, History of Lebanon - Border Tension

Read more here: » History of Lebanon: Encyclopedia II - History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present

See also: Phoenicia Lebanon is the historic home of the Phoenicians, Semitic traders whose maritime culture flourished there for more than 2,000 years (c. 2700–450 BC). Ancient ruins in Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, and Beirut show a civilized nation, with urban centres and sophisticated arts. Present-day Lebanon was a centre for many nations and cultures. Its people roamed the Mediterranean seas, skilled in trade and in art. They were also the creators of the oldest known 24-letter alphabet, a shortening of ...

See also:

History of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - 19th Century, History of Lebanon - The rise and fall of Emir Bashir II, History of Lebanon - Sectarian conflict: European Powers begin to intervene, History of Lebanon - Rising prosperity and peace, History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate, History of Lebanon - Independence, History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict, History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990, History of Lebanon - Initial outbreak 1975–76 and Syrian intervention, History of Lebanon - PLO and Israeli conflict Israeli intervention 1976–82, History of Lebanon - Israeli invasion and international intervention: 1982–84, History of Lebanon - Worsening conflict and political crisis: 1985–89, History of Lebanon - End of the Civil War: 1989–91, History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present, History of Lebanon - Continued Syrian military presence, History of Lebanon - 2004 Amendments to the Constitution, History of Lebanon - Assassination of Hariri 2005, History of Lebanon - Withdrawal of Syrian troops, History of Lebanon - Amnesty for Samir Geagea, History of Lebanon - Hariri Assassination Investigations, History of Lebanon - Border Tension

Read more here: » History of Lebanon: Encyclopedia II - History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Lebanon became home to more than 110,000 Palestinian refugees displaced from their homeland. More Palestinians found their way to Lebanon than to any other Arab country. More Palestinian refugees arrived in Lebanon after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Following their defeat in the Jordanian civil war, thousands of Palestinian militiamen regrouped in Lebanon, led by Yasir Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization, with the intention of replicating the modus operandi of attacking Israel fr ...

See also:

History of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - 19th Century, History of Lebanon - The rise and fall of Emir Bashir II, History of Lebanon - Sectarian conflict: European Powers begin to intervene, History of Lebanon - Rising prosperity and peace, History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate, History of Lebanon - Independence, History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict, History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990, History of Lebanon - Initial outbreak 1975–76 and Syrian intervention, History of Lebanon - PLO and Israeli conflict Israeli intervention 1976–82, History of Lebanon - Israeli invasion and international intervention: 1982–84, History of Lebanon - Worsening conflict and political crisis: 1985–89, History of Lebanon - End of the Civil War: 1989–91, History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present, History of Lebanon - Continued Syrian military presence, History of Lebanon - 2004 Amendments to the Constitution, History of Lebanon - Assassination of Hariri 2005, History of Lebanon - Withdrawal of Syrian troops, History of Lebanon - Amnesty for Samir Geagea, History of Lebanon - Hariri Assassination Investigations, History of Lebanon - Border Tension

Read more here: » History of Lebanon: Encyclopedia II - History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict

During the nineteenth century the town of Beirut became the most important port of the region supplanting Acre further to the south. This was mostly because Mount Lebanon became a centre of silk production for export to Europe. This industry made the region wealthy, but also dependent on links to Europe. Since most of the silk went to Marseille the French began to have a great impact in the region. History of Le ...

See also:

History of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - 19th Century, History of Lebanon - The rise and fall of Emir Bashir II, History of Lebanon - Sectarian conflict: European Powers begin to intervene, History of Lebanon - Rising prosperity and peace, History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate, History of Lebanon - Independence, History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict, History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990, History of Lebanon - Initial outbreak 1975–76 and Syrian intervention, History of Lebanon - PLO and Israeli conflict Israeli intervention 1976–82, History of Lebanon - Israeli invasion and international intervention: 1982–84, History of Lebanon - Worsening conflict and political crisis: 1985–89, History of Lebanon - End of the Civil War: 1989–91, History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present, History of Lebanon - Continued Syrian military presence, History of Lebanon - 2004 Amendments to the Constitution, History of Lebanon - Assassination of Hariri 2005, History of Lebanon - Withdrawal of Syrian troops, History of Lebanon - Amnesty for Samir Geagea, History of Lebanon - Hariri Assassination Investigations, History of Lebanon - Border Tension

Read more here: » History of Lebanon: Encyclopedia II - History of Lebanon - 19th Century

Main article: Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises of Lebanon's colonial period and was exacerbated by the nation's changing demographic trends, Christian and Muslim inter-religious strife, and proximity to Syria, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Israel. Events and political movements that contributed to Lebanon's violent implosion include, among others, the departure of European colonial powers, the emergence of Arab Nationalism, Arab ...

See also:

History of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - 19th Century, History of Lebanon - The rise and fall of Emir Bashir II, History of Lebanon - Sectarian conflict: European Powers begin to intervene, History of Lebanon - Rising prosperity and peace, History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate, History of Lebanon - Independence, History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict, History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990, History of Lebanon - Initial outbreak 1975–76 and Syrian intervention, History of Lebanon - PLO and Israeli conflict Israeli intervention 1976–82, History of Lebanon - Israeli invasion and international intervention: 1982–84, History of Lebanon - Worsening conflict and political crisis: 1985–89, History of Lebanon - End of the Civil War: 1989–91, History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present, History of Lebanon - Continued Syrian military presence, History of Lebanon - 2004 Amendments to the Constitution, History of Lebanon - Assassination of Hariri 2005, History of Lebanon - Withdrawal of Syrian troops, History of Lebanon - Amnesty for Samir Geagea, History of Lebanon - Hariri Assassination Investigations, History of Lebanon - Border Tension

Read more here: » History of Lebanon: Encyclopedia II - History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990

Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the League of Nations mandated the five provinces that make up present-day Lebanon to the direct control of France. Initially the division of the Arab speaking areas of the Ottoman empire were to be divided by the Sykes-Picot Agreement, however, the final disposition was at the San Remo conference of 1920, whose determinations on the mandates, their boundaries, purposes and organization ...

See also:

History of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - Ancient history of Lebanon, History of Lebanon - 19th Century, History of Lebanon - The rise and fall of Emir Bashir II, History of Lebanon - Sectarian conflict: European Powers begin to intervene, History of Lebanon - Rising prosperity and peace, History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate, History of Lebanon - Independence, History of Lebanon - Regional Conflict, History of Lebanon - The Lebanese Civil War: 1975–1990, History of Lebanon - Initial outbreak 1975–76 and Syrian intervention, History of Lebanon - PLO and Israeli conflict Israeli intervention 1976–82, History of Lebanon - Israeli invasion and international intervention: 1982–84, History of Lebanon - Worsening conflict and political crisis: 1985–89, History of Lebanon - End of the Civil War: 1989–91, History of Lebanon - Postwar reconstruction: 1992 to Present, History of Lebanon - Continued Syrian military presence, History of Lebanon - 2004 Amendments to the Constitution, History of Lebanon - Assassination of Hariri 2005, History of Lebanon - Withdrawal of Syrian troops, History of Lebanon - Amnesty for Samir Geagea, History of Lebanon - Hariri Assassination Investigations, History of Lebanon - Border Tension

Read more here: » History of Lebanon: Encyclopedia II - History of Lebanon - League of Nations Mandate

The destruction at the end of the bronze age left a number of tiny kingdoms and City-states behind. A few Hittite centres remained in northern Syria, along with some Phoenician ports in Canaan that escaped destruction and developed into great commercial powers. In the 12th century BC most of the interior, as well as Babylonia, was overrun by Arameans, while the shoreline around today's Gaza Strip fell to the Philistines. By the late 11th-early 10th century BC, Canaan had been conquered by the Hebrews, also known as Israelites who united under one king, David. David made Jerusalem the capital of the Kingdom of Israel ...

See also:

History of the Levant, History of the Levant - The Stone age, History of the Levant - The Bronze age, History of the Levant - The Iron age, History of the Levant - The Classical empires, History of the Levant - The Islamic era, History of the Levant - The Ottoman period and the 20th century

Read more here: » History of the Levant: Encyclopedia II - History of the Levant - The Iron age

From 492-449 BC the Persians made a series of unsuccessful attempts to conquer Greece. The civilisation that had developed there since the end of the bronze age was organised along entirely different lines than those of the Middle East, consisting of numerous small City-States fielding citizen militias. Nonetheless they banded together and proved quite capable of dealing with the massive armies of their foe. By the fourth century BC Persia had fallen into decline. The campaigns of Xenophon illustrated how very vulnerable it had become ...

See also:

History of the Levant, History of the Levant - The Stone age, History of the Levant - The Bronze age, History of the Levant - The Iron age, History of the Levant - The Classical empires, History of the Levant - The Islamic era, History of the Levant - The Ottoman period and the 20th century

Read more here: » History of the Levant: Encyclopedia II - History of the Levant - The Classical empires

The destruction at the end of the bronze age left a number of tiny kingdoms and City-states behind. A few Hittite centres remained in northern Syria, along with some Phoenician ports in Canaan that escaped destruction and now developed into great commercial powers. Southern Palestine initially fell to the Philistines, but by the late 11th-early 10th century BC had been conquered by the Hebrews. And most of the in ...

See also:

History of the Levant, History of the Levant - The Stone age, History of the Levant - The Bronze age, History of the Levant - The Iron age, History of the Levant - The Classical empires, History of the Levant - The Islamic era, History of the Levant - The Ottoman Period and the 20th Century

Read more here: » History of the Levant: Encyclopedia II - History of the Levant - The Iron age

From 492-449 BC the Persians made a series of unsuccessful attempts to conquer Greece. The civilisation that had developed there since the end of the bronze age was organised along entirely different lines than those of the Middle East, consisting of numerous small City-States fielding citizen militias. Nonetheless they banded together and proved quite capable of dealing with the massive armies of their foe. By the fourth century BC Persia had fallen into decline. The campaigns of Xenophon illustrated how very vulnerable it had become ...

See also:

History of the Levant, History of the Levant - The Stone age, History of the Levant - The Bronze age, History of the Levant - The Iron age, History of the Levant - The Classical empires, History of the Levant - The Islamic era, History of the Levant - The Ottoman Period and the 20th Century

Read more here: » History of the Levant: Encyclopedia II - History of the Levant - The Classical empires