Syria in Perspective: An Orientation Guide - History, Assad Years, Recent Events, Geography, Economy, Society, Security, Military and Terrorist Groups

This unique ebook provides a thorough introduction to critical information about Syria, produced by the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Technology Integration Division June 2011. Contents include:

Chapter 1: Geography - Introduction * Location and Area * Geographic Divisions and Topographic Features * Rivers and Lakes * Climate * Major Cities * Environmental Concerns * Natural Hazards * Assessment

Chapter 2: History - Introduction * Ebla * Waves of Invaders * Aramaeans, Assyrians, and Persians * Ancient Greek Conquest * The Roman and Byzantine Era * The Spread of Islam * The Umayyad Era * Fatimid Rule * Saladin, the Ayyubids, and the Mamluks * The Ottoman Era * End of the Ottoman Era * World War I * The French Mandate * Coups * The Baathists * Baath Ascendancy * The Early Assad Years * Lebanon * Bashar al-Assad * Recent Events * Assessment

Chapter 3: Economy - Introduction * Resources * Services * Industry * Agriculture * Trade * Standard of Living * Investment * Transportation * Economic Outlook * Assessment

Chapter 4: Society - Ethnic Groups * Political Refugees * Literature and Arts * Social Customs * Male-Female Relationships * Sports * Assessment

Chapter 5: Security - Introduction * U.S.-Syrian Relations * Relations with Neighboring Countries * Military * Terrorist Groups * Other Security Issues * Assessment

Syria lies at the northern end of one of the world's most volatile regions. Modern-day Syria was once part of a larger geographical territory that encompassed the coastal and inland areas along the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Known as Greater Syria, or the Levant, this region roughly included the current states of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the present-day Palestinian territories and a portion of southern Turkey. Over time, the boundaries of these regions changed but conflict has been a constant. In recent times, two of Syria's neighborsIraq and Lebanonhave been plagued by wars that have periodically devastated their countries. In addition, Syria played an active military role in the 2011 Lebanese conflict. Syria's southwestern neighbor, Israel, has fought three wars against Syria and its allies since 1948; it currently occupies the Golan Heights, which was Syrian territory after WWI until 1967. Syria's relations with its other two neighbors, Turkey and Jordan, have often been frosty as well, with standoffs over issues ranging from water rights to terrorism support. The Assad regime has also had to face internal threats, and has responded by using its feared security apparatus to relentlessly discourage dissent.

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