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Map of ancient sites of the Middle East. Many
ancient civilizations existed on the Syrian soil. This map displays some of
the ancient sites in Syria and the Middle East. |
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Map of the Great Umayyad Empire, with a small
map of its capital, Damascus. This empire was the greatest in the world in
the 7th and 8th centuries under Caliph Walid I. The map dates back to 1884 |
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Another map of the Umayyad Empire at its
greatest extent. |
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The Crusaders Principalities in Syria and
Palestine and the Empire of Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders at the
battle of Hittin |
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The Ottoman Empire (16th and 17th centuries).
The Ottomans occupied the Middle East including Syria in 1516. Their
occupation lasted till 1918. |
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The city of Damascus, 1912. From a guide book
on "Palestine and Syria". |
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1947 UN Partition plan for Palestine. The
plan gave the Jewish state 58% of Palestine's area despite the fact that
Jews were only 30% of Palestine's population. |
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The Arab armies attack in the Palestine War
1948. Arabs achieved initial victories. Before accepting a short truce,
during which Israel strengthened its troops with new weapons. |
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Armistice lines 1949. The war ended with
Israel occupying 78% of Palestine. But the Arab-Israeli conflict was only at
its beginning. |
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Israeli aggression against Arab countries,
June 1967. During a six-day-war, Israel occupied Egyptian Sinai, the West
Bank of Jordan and the Syrian Golan Heights. |
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Syrian attack in the Golan Heights during the
October War 1973. Syrians were only few kilometers away from the Sea of
Galilee. Israel would have suffered a disastrous defeat without the massive
American military aid. |
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Golan Heights (1974-1999), After the October
War 1973, Syria liberated some land in the Golan. This is how the Golan
looks today, with many Israeli settlements built in it against all
international laws and UN resolutions. |
