SYRIA, LEBANON, AND JORDAN

Chapter 18Section 4

SYRIA Capital:

Damascus Oldest continuously

inhabited city in world Climate

Mostly desert Geography

Narrow coastal plain Double mountain belt in

west Large desert plateau in

east

DAMASCUS EUPHRATES RIVER

GOLAN HEIGHTS

SYRIA Leading regional

trade center Mandate of France

after World War I Mandate: former

territories of defeated nations

placed under control of the winning countries after the war

Gained independence in 1941

POLITICS 1971-2000

Hafiz al-Assad lead government

Increased size of military

Goal to match Israel’s strength

2000 Bashar al-Assad

elected present Took over after father’s

death

GOVERNMENT Republic under

authoritarian regime Political power

concentrated on an individual

Not responsible to the people

Non-democratic Military dominated

Independence Day April 17, 1946

ECONOMY Government owned

Oil refineries Large electrical plants Railroads

Manufactured goods Textiles Food products Chemicals

Agriculture important

ECONOMY Small deposits of oil Other important

natural resources Basalts- dark fine

grained rock from volcanoes used in floor tiles and asphalt

Limestone- sedimentary rock used in building and road making

Phosphates- used in fertilizer

PEOPLE 17 million people 90% Arab 10% Kurds and Armenians

Religion 74% Sunni Muslim 16% Alawites and Druze

Small branches of Islam 10% Christian Small Jewish communities in some cities

LEBANON Small mountainous On Mediterranean

coast Capitol: Beirut Climate:

Mediterranean

HISTORY Many religious and

ethnic groups during Ottoman Empire

After World War I became a French Mandate with Syria

Gained independence in January 1, 1944

BEIRUT COAST OF LEBANON

PEOPLE Population mostly Arab Divided into several religious groups

Muslim Sunni, Shia, Druze (Middle Eastern religious sect)

Christian Maronites

Eastern rite of the Catholic Church At the time of independence

Slightly more Christian Now more Muslim

CIVIL WAR After Independence

Muslim and Christians shared power Government positions carefully designated

to each group Shia- the poorest group, grew rapidly

Designation in government did not Tension grew between groups

CIVIL WAR Palestine refugees migrated to Lebanon Ethnic and religious groups armed

themselves Fighting broke out in 1970’s Fighting lasted until 1990 Tens of thousands of people died Beruit was badly damaged

ECONOMY 1990’s the economy began to strengthen

Oil refining pick up It was brought to Lebanon by a pipeline

Food processing Textiles Cement Chemical Jewelry making Farming

Tobacco Grains Vegetables

JORDAN Capitol: Amman Population

6.4 million people Israel and the Dead Sea

on the West. Syria to the north Arid hills and mountains

make up Jordan Climate: mostly desert

with rainy season in the west

HISTORY Known as Transjordan

until 1949 After World War I it was

a British Mandate British established

Prince Abdullah as the monarch He helped English in

WWI Became fully

independent in May 25, 1946

AMMAN, JORDAN AMMAN TEMPLE RUINS

HISTORY West Bank

After creation of Israel and war of 1946 Jordan annexed the West Bank

At independence Population small Nomadic or

seminomadicWest Bank wall from Jerusalem

WEST BANK

1947 West Bank was

Jordananian territory 1967 Six Day War

After Arab-Israeli war the West Bank was under Israeli occupation

Population of West Bank Palestinian

HISTORY At independence population of Jordan

Small Nomadic or seminomadic

After Israeli wars in 1948 and 1967 Hundreds of thousand Palestinian refugees

migrated to Jordan

HISTORY Migration of refugees

Strained resources Cultural division

between Palestinian “original” Jordanian

Arabs

Palestinian Refugees 1967

HISTORY 1952-1999

Ruled by King Hussin Considered best

ruler in the region Popularity allowed

democratic reforms Resulted in fewer

conflicts.

ECONOMY Limited resources

Phosphates Cement Potash

Salts that contain the water soluble form of potassium

Depend on oil rich Arab nations for aid

RESOURCES Farmers

Raise fruits and vegetables on Jordan river

Highland areas Wheat

Sheep and goats important source of income

Overgrazing causes erosion

Lack of water an issue