1. Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan
Chapter 18
Section 4
Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan

2. Syria Capital: Climate Geography Damascus Mostly desert
Oldest continuously inhabited city in world
Climate
Mostly desert
Geography
Narrow coastal plain
Double mountain belt in west
Large desert plateau in east

3. Damascus
Euphrates river

4. Golan heights

5. 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

6. Politics 1971-2000 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

7. government Republic under authoritarian regime Independence Day
Political power concentrated on an individual
Not responsible to the people
Non-democratic
Military dominated
Independence Day
April 17, 1946

8. Economy Government owned Manufactured goods Agriculture important
Oil refineries
Large electrical plants
Railroads
Manufactured goods
Textiles
Food products
Chemicals
Agriculture important

9. 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

10. 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

11. Lebanon Small mountainous On Mediterranean coast Capitol: Beirut
Climate:
Mediterranean

12. 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

13. Beirut
Coast of Lebanon

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Jordan Capitol: Amman Population Israel and the Dead Sea on the West.
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

19. 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

20. Amman, Jordan
Amman Temple ruins

21. History West Bank At independence
After creation of Israel and war of 1946 Jordan annexed the West Bank
At independence
Population small
Nomadic or seminomadic
West Bank wall from Jerusalem

22. West bank 1947 1967 Six Day War Population of West Bank
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
West bank

23. 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

24. History Migration of refugees Palestinian Refugees 1967
Strained resources
Cultural division between
Palestinian
“original” Jordanian Arabs
Palestinian Refugees 1967

25. History 1952-1999 Ruled by King Hussin
Considered best ruler in the region
Popularity allowed democratic reforms
Resulted in fewer conflicts.

26. Economy Limited resources Depend on oil rich Arab nations for aid
Phosphates
Cement
Potash
Salts that contain the water soluble form of potassium
Depend on oil rich Arab nations for aid

27. 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