03/07/2021
Syria is often described as “ the largest small country in the world” , in spite of the fact that it covers only 185.180 Sq.Km, with a population of 12.000.000 people (1986 estimate). So where did this description come from ?
And how can we solve such a paradox ? Let us start the story from the beginning:
Syria is the cradle of the great ancient civilizations . It is here that agriculture began ten thousand years ago , when the Syrians succeeded in uniting water with wheat, and in getting thousands of grains out of one grain . Hence , the settlement commenced, and civilization started ( the sites of Mreibit , Jeiroud , Yabroud ...).
Syria also presented the world with another discovery , it was here that copper was made pliable , and bronze was invented ( the site of TALHALAF). Later , the ancient Kingdoms were formed (Mari-Ugharit-Ebla-Yamhad). All these were Arab Kingdoms and their inhabitants spoke different dialects of a language of Arabic origin .Those inhabitants known as the Amorites, or the Phoenicians , or the Arameans, or the Canaanites and the Ghassanites, were the descendents of the Arabs who immigrated ages ago from the Arab Peninsula, and gave Syria its Arab identity .
The immense strategic importance of Syria is due to its unique position as the meeting point of three continents, and as the crossroad among the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Caspion Sea, the Black See and the Nile . Through Syria lay the Silk Road which led from China to the first Syrian station, Doura Eupropos(Tal as’Salhiyed),then to Palmyra and Homs, to the Syrian ports on the Mediterranean which was turned by the Syrian sailors into an Arab Lake thousands of years ago . This geographical position lent distinction to the country, not only as a trade and caravan road , but also as a meeting-point of diverse ideas, beliefs and cultures. Therefore, Syria contains remains of all great ancient civilizations .
Syria, that witnessed the discovery of agriculture and the creation of alloys, offered humanity the first alphabet in history (Ugarit). The alphabet, without which man could have never learnt how to write, to think and to live as a true human being.
With the Islamic conquest (636 A.D), Dimashq (Damascus) became the capital of the Omayyad state, which stretched from the borders of China to South.
France.Since then, Syria has retained its unique position in the heart of the Arab and Islamic nation. It was Syria that defended the Arab nation against the Crusaders, and it is still preserving the Arab unity against all forms of colonialism and occupation by always being present in the Arab and international circles, thus deserving its historical position “the largest small country in the world.”