Syria

     From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Syrian Arab Republic is a country in Southwest Asia, and the Middle East, bordering on Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. The border with Israel is not final pending the resolution of outstanding conflicts.

The name Syria comes from the ancient Greek name for the lands at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Arabia to the south and Cilicia to the north, stretching inland to include Mesopotamia, and having an uncertain border to the northeast that Pliny the Elder describes as including from west to east Commagene, Sophene, and Adiabene, "formerly known as Assyria" (N.H 5.66). By Pliny's time, however, this larger Syria had been divided into a number of smaller regions: Palestine in the extreme southwest, then Judea, Phoenicia along the coast, with Damascena to the inland side of Phoenicia, Coele-Syria (or "Hollow Syria") north of the Eleutheris river, and Mesopotamia.

Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
الجمهوريّة العربيّة السّوريّة

(In Detail)
National motto: None
Official language	Arabic
Capital	Damascus
President	Bashar al-Assad
Prime Minister	Muhammad Naji al-Otari
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 86th 185,180 km² 0.06%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 55th 17,585,540 93/km²
Independence  - Declared  - Recognition	FromVichy France  - January 1 1944  - April 7 1946
Currency	Pound by arab lira
Time zone	UTC +2
National anthem	Homat el Diyar
Internet TLD	.SY
Calling Code	963

Table of contents

1 History 2 Politics 3 Provinces 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links

History

Main article: History of Syria Syria has been the cradle of some of the world's oldest civilizations, and has been part of the Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Phoenician empires, before becoming part of the (Eastern) Roman Empire.

Having been a cradle of Christianity, with the expansion of Islam in the Middle East in the 7th century, Syria became one of the centres of the new religion. After invasions by the Seljuk Turks and the Crusades, Syria came under Arab control until 1516, when it was conquered by the Ottomans.

Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French, who had already proclaimed themselves as protector of the country in the 18th century. The country was liberated from the Vichy government, and independence was declared in 1944, although foreign troops remained until 1946. Syria was a charter member of the United Nations.

In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.

As of 2004, Syria is regarded by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Syria While nominally a democratic republic, Syria has been led by a military regime since a 1963 coup by the Baath Party. This party holds a two-thirds majority in the Syrian parliament (which has 250 seats), while the remainder is occupied by independent representatives. The country has been under a state of emergency laws since 1963.

The head of state is president Bashar al-Assad, the son of president Hafez al-Assad, who led the country from 1971 until his death in 2000. The president appoints a council of ministers and a prime minister, who together form the executive branch of the Syrian government.

Provinces

Main article: Provinces of Syria Syria has fourteen provinces, or muhafazat:

• Al Hasakah
• Al Ladhiqiyah
• Al Qunaytirah
• Ar Raqqah
• As Suwayda
• Dara
• Dayr az Zawr
• Dimashq
• Halab
• Hamah
• Hims
• Idlib
• Rif Dimashq
• Tartus

Geography

Main article: Geography of Syria Syria consists mostly of arid plateau, although there is a small strip with plain along the coast line with the Mediterranean. The Euphrates, Syria's most important river, crosses the country in the east. It is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity." Major cities include the capital Damascus in the southwest, Aleppo in the north, and Homs. Most of the other important cities are located along the coast line. (See also List of cities in Syria.) The climate in Syria is dry and hot, although winters are mild. Because of the country's elevation, snowfall does also occur occasionally during winter.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Syria Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing, on average, more slowly than its 2.4% annual population growth rate, causing a persistent decline in per capita GDP. Recent legislation allows private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector will take years and further government cooperation to develop. External factors such as the international war on terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the war between the US-led coalition and Iraq probably will drive real annual GDP growth levels back below their 3.5% spike in 2002. A long-run economic constraint is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Syria Most of the Syrian population (90%) is of Arabic ethnicity, but there are sizeable Kurdish and Armenian minorities. This is also reflected in the languages spoken; Arabic is the official language, but Kurdish, Turkish, and Armenian are spoken by the minorities. Syriac is still used, mostly within the Syrian Orthodox Church. In addition, Circassian is also spoken.

Most Arabs in Syria are Muslim. Sunni Muslims make up about 74% of the population, with other Muslim sects (mainly Druze and Alawite) comprising 16%. The remainder are mostly Christian, although there is a small Jewish community.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Syria

• Music of Syria

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Syria
• Transportation in Syria
• Military of Syria
• Foreign relations of Syria
• Famous people from Syria

External links

• http://www.ezsy.com
• http://www.syriagate.com
• http://www.syrialive.com
• http://www.syriaonline.com