syria, jordan & lebanon objective: to examine the history, culture, and current-day situation of...
TRANSCRIPT
Syria, Jordan & Lebanon
Objective: To examine the history, culture, and current-day situation
of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Background: • Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon
all border Israel- all have been involved in conflicts
• Capital of Syria= Damascus- is possibly the oldest inhabited city on the world
• For centuries it was a center of trade (under Roman Empire)- becomes part of the Ottoman Empire 1500
• After WWI France controlled Syria
• 1940s becomes independent
History & Government: • 1971-2000 Led by dictator
Hafiz al-Assad – As Pres. He increases size of
military– Wants to match Israel’s
military strength & protect his rule from political enemies
– 2000 Assad dies- his son Bashar al-Assad elected Pres. • He had goals of improving
economy
• Syria has a socialist govt. (owns countries oil refineries, large electrical plants, railroads and some factories)
Syria’s People & Economy:
• Pop. More than 18 million- 90% Arab
• Other 10 % are Kurds and Armenians
• 74% of Syrians are Sunni Muslims
• 16 % are Druze and Alawite sects (small branches of Islam)
• Other: – 10 % are Christian – Some small Jewish
communities
Economy: • Key manufactured goods: textiles, foods products, & chemicals) • Importance of agriculture (only
small oil & natural gas) Iron ore, Basalt, & phosphates
“The UN Has Failed on Syria?”
• 12 March 2012 Last updated at 11:14 ET• British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UN
Security Council has ''failed'' in the eyes of most of the world in its responsibilities to the people of Syria.
• Mr Hague, who was chairing a UN debate on the Middle East in New York, said it was time for the Security Council to ''show unity and to show leadership''.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17341335
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17347708
Lebanon’s History & People: • Under Ottoman Empire many
religious & ethnic minority groups • After WWI France controlled Syria
and Lebanon • Same as Syria gain indep. 1940s • Some aspects of Fr. Culture
influence Lebanese culture – Lebanese speak Arabic and
some speak French – People are Arab but divided by
religion (Most are Muslim or Christian) & each have small divisions within
– Muslims: Sunni, Shia, and Druze * Muslims are the largest group
– Maronites = largest Christian group
•
Lebanon’s Civil War Today: • Decades after indep. Christian and
Muslims are sharing power • Before- different positions held by
different groups – Pres. Was a Maronite – Tensions increase
• Added to tension of thousands of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon
• Ethnic and religious groups armed themselves (1970s fighting broke out)
• Wars last til 1990; thousands die • Capital of Beirut was badly damaged &
finally rebuilding today • During 1990s Lebanese economy slowly
recovered from Civil War– Today industries include: Food
processing, textiles, cement, chemicals, and jewelry making
Jordan: History & Govt.
• Jordan created after WWI – Brit controlled & name
Arab prince as monarch – 1940 gain indep. Small
population – Most people nomadic/
semi-nomadic – 100s of thousands of
refugees flee Israel to live in Jordan
– 1952-1999 ruled by King Hussein some demo. reform 1990s
People & Resources: • Many of Jordan’s pple are Bedouins
(Arabic-speaking Nomads who mostly live in the deserts of SW Asia)
• Jordan produces phosphates, cement, and potash
• Tourism and banking are important industries
• Jordan depends on economic aid from oil-rich Arab nations & US
• Amman- capital = Jordan’s largest city
• Jordanian farmers grow fruits and vegetables & raise sheep and goats
• Shortage of water- crucial resource issue for Jordan