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Syria Cultural facts

Syria Cultural facts. The Syrians. 23 million people 74 % Sunni Muslim 12% Alawites , a sect of Shia Muslims 10% Christian Small % Druze, mystical religious sect Alawites have dominated government for decades President Bashar al-Assad is Alawite

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Syria Cultural facts

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  1. Syria Cultural facts

  2. The Syrians • 23 million people • 74 % Sunni Muslim • 12% Alawites, a sect of Shia Muslims • 10% Christian • Small % Druze, mystical religious sect • Alawites have dominated government for decades • President Bashar al-Assad is Alawite • Most speak Arabic, about 9% speak Kurdish (NE)

  3. Ancient history • Cradle of civilization for at least 10,000 years. • Fertile Crecsent • Ancient majestic cities from 1800 BCE • Capital city: Damascus • Been part of major empires in history: Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Macedonians & Romans

  4. Notable places • Biggest cities are Aleppo in the Northwest, Damascus in the Southwest are truly ancient. • Damascus first mentioned in Egyptian document dating 1500 BCE • Aleppo may be one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the world. Ancient city along the Silk Road. It saw bustling trade for centuries

  5. Modern history • For nearly four centuries Syria was part of Ottoman Empire. • Syria and Lebanon came under French control after WWI • Became independent in 1946. • From time to time, Syria has occupied and tried to control Lebanon. • Current President’s father was ruler from 1971 until his death in 2000. • Governed as a dictatorship.

  6. Current conflict • Civil war erupted after President al-Assad violently suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations in 2011 • Rebel groups began to organize. Not all working together. Many have increasingly been composed of Islamist factions, making U.S. nervous about assisting them vs. President. • Feb. 2012, UN condemned massacre by gov’t in city of Homs. UN estimates about 100,000 people have been killed so far, millions displaced by the conflict • August of 2012 President Obama issued warning to Syria not to use chemical weapons. That use could change U.S. action. • On August 26, 2013 U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry said there was strong evidence that Syria government used chemical weapons vs. own citizens.

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