Background Guide on Situation in Syria

Background Guide

Written by 李嘉语、吴昊1. Committee introduction (SKIP)

2.History and development in Syria

2.1 Early History

Syria is a country with a brilliant and long history. Since approximately 10,000 BC, Syria was one of the center of Neolithic culture where agriculture and cattle breding appeared for the first time in the world. The earliest recorded civilization which appeared on this region was around 3000 BC, called the city state of Ebla and it gradually built its prosperity through trading with other states. Finally, state of Ebla was conquered by Sargon of Akkad around 2330 BC.

Then, the owner of this region had changed frequently. During the 8th century BC, Syria became a part of the map of Assyrian Empire. After that, 500 years later, the Macedonian army invaded Syria and defeated its owner. Around 64 BC, the ancient romans seized the place and at the end of the 7th century AD, it had turned into territory in the Kingdom of Arab.

And after the crusaders attacked in

the 11th century, it was ruled by the kingdom of Sulalah al—Mamalik in Egypt. And since 1600 AD, Syria had turned into a part of Osmanlı İmparatorluğu. This period had lasted for nearly 400 years.

2.2 French Mandate

In 1920, an independent kingdom named kingdom of Syria was established. Being ruled by the Faisal I of the Hashemite family, this state had only existed for a few months. Following the battle of Mayalun, French troop occupied Syria to the end of that year after the San Remo conference promoted Syria under a French mandate.

In 1925, a man named Sultan

al-Atrash led a revolt that spread almost all over the country and a part of the Lebanon. He had won several battles against France until the spring of 1927 the resistant was impeded by French army and he was arrested, being sentenced to death at the same time. However, he successfully escaped from the destiny with the help of rebels and eventually got back to his homeland Syria after the signing of Syrian-French treaty in 1937.

2.3 Independence

Syria and France has signed a treaty of independence in 1936 but

this treaty has never come into power because France refuses to ratify it. Anyhow, the first president was elected under the structure of the modern republic of Syria and his name was Hashim al-Atassi.

However, during world war II, Syria was ruled by Vichy France after France surrendered until 1941 British and Free French occupied the region. Due to the pressure from Syrian nationalists and outside world, British and French were forced to revoke their troops in April of 1946, leaving the country in the hands of the republican government which was established during the mandate.

2.4 Ba'athist Syria

On February 23rd, 1996, the Military Committee in Syria carried out an overthrow which led to a result that the president was imprisoned and a civilian Ba`ath government was established on March 1st. Nureddin al-Atassi became the leader of the nation at that time. However, the real ruler of Syria was Salah Jadid until 1970.

The conflict between Syria and Israel on disputed land was