The Syrian History and Culture
Syria has forever been a mixing of both indigenous and foreign cultures, due to the fact that it has hosted a mind-boggling amount of empires, including, but not limited to Sumerians, Eblaites, Akkadians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hittites, Hurrians, Mitanni, Amorites, Babylonians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Arameans, Suteans, Neo-Assyrians, Persians, Macedonian Greeks, Hellenists, Romans, Parthians, Byzantines, Muslim Arabs, Crusaders, Mongols, Timurids, Ottomans, Hashemites, and the French. It wasn't until 1946 that Syria wasn't under the control of an empire or kingdom. After the short-lived terms of several presidents, a communist-socialist (Ba'athist) movement in Syria led to the eventual election of Hafez Al-Assad, Bashar's father, in 1970. From then on, Syria has been under the rule of the Ba'athist party (History).
Syria has forever been a mixing of both indigenous and foreign cultures, due to the fact that it has hosted a mind-boggling amount of empires, including, but not limited to Sumerians, Eblaites, Akkadians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hittites, Hurrians, Mitanni, Amorites, Babylonians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Arameans, Suteans, Neo-Assyrians, Persians, Macedonian Greeks, Hellenists, Romans, Parthians, Byzantines, Muslim Arabs, Crusaders, Mongols, Timurids, Ottomans, Hashemites, and the French. It wasn't until 1946 that Syria wasn't under the control of an empire or kingdom. After the short-lived terms of several presidents, a communist-socialist (Ba'athist) movement in Syria led to the eventual election of Hafez Al-Assad, Bashar's father, in 1970. From then on, Syria has been under the rule of the Ba'athist party (History).
Naturally, with the mixing of many peoples and empires came the diversity in culture, such as in ethnicity (Syrian Arabs, Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, Circassians, Mandeans, and Turks), religion (Sunnis, Christians, Alawites, Druze, Isma'ilis, Mandeans, Shiites, Salafis, Yazidis, and Jews) and language (Arabic, Levantine, Kurdish, Armenian, Turkmen, Aramaic, Classical Syriac, Western Neo-Aramaic, English, and French) (Syria). All of these cultures have brought their own piece of history and way of living, making Syria a true melting pot. Despite these differences in culture, Syrians have come together and assimilated, and people have even accepted aspects of certain cultures into lives.
Life as a Syrian
Syrian life is greatly centered around community and traditions. Different communities may vary in traditions and culture. For example, a Syrian born in Damascus would speak a different dialect, have a different diet, and wear different clothes than a Syrian born in Aleppo. These differences in communities make Syria a vibrant, colorful country.
Syrian life is greatly centered around community and traditions. Different communities may vary in traditions and culture. For example, a Syrian born in Damascus would speak a different dialect, have a different diet, and wear different clothes than a Syrian born in Aleppo. These differences in communities make Syria a vibrant, colorful country.
Syrians boast a Mediterranean diet, with Turkish, Asian, Greek, and French influences. The Mediterranean diet is typically light and places emphasis on plant-based foods and cooking with olive oil (rather than other fattier oils), though there are some exceptions, such as the originally Turkish shish kebab. Although different communities have various diets, traditional Syrian foods are enjoyed by most communities. Dishes such as kibbeh, hummus, tabbouleh, yabra', fattoush, labneh, shawarma, mujaddara, shanklish, pastırma, sujuk and baklava are commonly found in Syrian households (Syria).
In the arts, Syria has made a great contribution to the Arab world. In the field of literature, Syrians have excelled in oral and written poetry. For Arabs, poetry has been a means of self-expression for ages. Poetry has been extremely important in Arab life, especially since the Qura'an was revealed to Arab Muslims as somewhat of an extraordinary piece of poetry because of the rhyming of the verses.
For Syrians, music has been an extension of the beloved Arab poetry. Syrian music has long been the most important of the Arab world, producing legends such as Asmahan, Farid al-Atrash, Lena Chamamyan, Sabri Moudallal, and Sabah Fakhri (Syria).
For Syrians, music has been an extension of the beloved Arab poetry. Syrian music has long been the most important of the Arab world, producing legends such as Asmahan, Farid al-Atrash, Lena Chamamyan, Sabri Moudallal, and Sabah Fakhri (Syria).
The most popular sport in Syria is soccer, as in most countries outside the US and Canada. In Syria (before the war of course), children would play soccer wherever they could- in the street, at home, at parties, etc. The Syrian national team has never been very successful, but Syrians are fanatics for their national team. Basketball, swimming, and tennis are also very popular sports in Syria.
The Beauty of Syria
Due to the mixing of many cultures in Syria, a variety of beautiful architecture can be found throughout the country, ranging from Catholic churches to Roman amphitheatres. Its location along the Silk Road also made it a prime location for marketplaces and "souks", especially in Aleppo, a city historically known for its merchants (my mom's side has a long history of merchants!).
Due to the mixing of many cultures in Syria, a variety of beautiful architecture can be found throughout the country, ranging from Catholic churches to Roman amphitheatres. Its location along the Silk Road also made it a prime location for marketplaces and "souks", especially in Aleppo, a city historically known for its merchants (my mom's side has a long history of merchants!).
Additionally, Syria's location on the Mediterranean Sea and its mountains make for picturesque views, and are a dream for many to visit.
The Syrian Problem
Discontent was always high in Syria ever since the "election" of Hafez Al-Assad in 1970. He passed down the presidency to his son, Bashar Al-Assad, which many understandably saw as unfair, especially since he won with 99.7% of the popular vote with no opposition, and voting against him was not allowed (Syrian Presidential). However, people lived on, and tried their best to ignore how severely underdeveloped Syria was. Syria's nominal GDP per capita was only $2,834, comparable to Sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria and far lower than its neighbors such as Lebanon, with an annual growth rate of 3.39%, below most other developing countries (Syrian Civil).
Discontent was always high in Syria ever since the "election" of Hafez Al-Assad in 1970. He passed down the presidency to his son, Bashar Al-Assad, which many understandably saw as unfair, especially since he won with 99.7% of the popular vote with no opposition, and voting against him was not allowed (Syrian Presidential). However, people lived on, and tried their best to ignore how severely underdeveloped Syria was. Syria's nominal GDP per capita was only $2,834, comparable to Sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria and far lower than its neighbors such as Lebanon, with an annual growth rate of 3.39%, below most other developing countries (Syrian Civil).
The human rights situation in Syria has long been criticized by various global organizations. The rights of free expression, association, and assembly- rights we have here in the US- were strictly controlled in Syria even before the uprising. The country was under emergency rule from 1963 until 2011 and public gatherings of more than five people were banned. Security forces had boundless powers of arrest and detention (Syrian Civil).
Additionally, authorities have harassed and imprisoned human rights activists and other critics of the government, who were often detained indefinitely and tortured while under prison-like conditions. Societally, women and ethnic minorities faced discrimination (Syrian Civil).
After all this effort to silence the people of Syria who were desperate for a change in government and the attainment of basic human rights, the people finally reached their tipping point when they flooded the streets of Damascus, for the release of political prisoners, and Dara'a, where they protested the torture and mutilation of several young boys.
Additionally, authorities have harassed and imprisoned human rights activists and other critics of the government, who were often detained indefinitely and tortured while under prison-like conditions. Societally, women and ethnic minorities faced discrimination (Syrian Civil).
After all this effort to silence the people of Syria who were desperate for a change in government and the attainment of basic human rights, the people finally reached their tipping point when they flooded the streets of Damascus, for the release of political prisoners, and Dara'a, where they protested the torture and mutilation of several young boys.
These protests rapidly grew in size and intensity, and instead of peacefully releasing the prisoners and ending the torture of children, the government decided to counter these protests violently, through the use of military force, further intensifying the conflict. Eventually, protests turned into massacres, and oppositional militias were formed against the government in an effort to overthrow the Assad regime.
By this point, this was a full-blown war, and Syria would be plunged into years of endless killing and torture, with no end in sight. Over the years, the statistics have been depressing, as about 470,000 have been killed, 4.9 million have fled, 6.3 million are internally displaced, and 13.5 million require humanitarian assistance (Durando).
By this point, this was a full-blown war, and Syria would be plunged into years of endless killing and torture, with no end in sight. Over the years, the statistics have been depressing, as about 470,000 have been killed, 4.9 million have fled, 6.3 million are internally displaced, and 13.5 million require humanitarian assistance (Durando).
Works Cited
“History of Syria.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Syria. Accessed 8 January 2018
“Syrian Civil War.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Civil_War. Accessed 8 January 2018
“Syria.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria. Accessed 8 January 2018
“Syrian Presidential Election, 2000.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_presidential_election,_2000.
Accessed 8 January 2018
Durando, Jessica. “Syria's Civil War: Disturbing Facts Show Cost of Conflict.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 6 Apr. 2017,
www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/14/syria-civil-war-facts/99126148/. Accessed 8 January 2018
“History of Syria.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Syria. Accessed 8 January 2018
“Syrian Civil War.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Civil_War. Accessed 8 January 2018
“Syria.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria. Accessed 8 January 2018
“Syrian Presidential Election, 2000.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_presidential_election,_2000.
Accessed 8 January 2018
Durando, Jessica. “Syria's Civil War: Disturbing Facts Show Cost of Conflict.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 6 Apr. 2017,
www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/14/syria-civil-war-facts/99126148/. Accessed 8 January 2018
Header from "World Monuments Fund"
https://www.wmf.org/project/citadel-aleppo
https://www.wmf.org/project/citadel-aleppo