History and culture

You are in Syria.

You are, then, where history has a voice and where soil has the scent of civilizations. In Syria the memories of perseverance and human innovations meet: Mary, Ebla,Ugarit Kadesh, Amrit, Apamea , Dura Oorobos, Palmyra, Bosra, Shahba, Rusafa ... In addition to all brilliant names : Damascus, Aleppo, Hama.

The most marvelous greatest civilizations were born and interacted on the Syrian land, and human achievements that benefit humanity until today.

The story of agriculture first began in Syria thousands of years ago. Stability and attachment to the land started and the man started building houses to shelter in instead of caves. He began a journey of self- discovery .He conversed with the sky and mumbled the earliest hymns.

This far period from human life and its remnants are still scattering in more than one place in Syria: in Amartibt, where the Euphrates Dam is located today, in Yabroud and on the banks of rivers.

Here in Syria, where man contributed to humanity with a great civilized achievement as he discovered copper and invented bronze.

This metal civilization originated on the banks of khabour in (Tell Halaf). Before that, there was the invention of clay and making it into ceramic and decorations. Since the third millennium B.C achievements and creations have been successive: In the kingdom of (Mari) on the Euphrates there were castles, drawings and remarkable commercial and cultural flourishing.

The Kingdom of (Ugarit) on the Syrian coast presented humanity with its miraculous invention: the first alphabet in the world.

While in the Kingdom of (Ebla), one of the greatest documentary library was discovered, in its royal palace, that organize matters related to administration, Commerce, diplomatic , industry affairs and war- peace relations with other kingdoms. Ebla influence expanded from the North of Anatolian Mountains to Sinai in the south.

Kingdom of (Akkad) in the east was well known with two important industries: the Syrian silk textiles decorated with golden threads, and the wood engraved and inlaid with ivory and shells.

Syria, after more than three thousand years and until today, is still known for these two industries:

Syrian silk Brocade with unique golden threads is one of a kind in the world and the Syrian wooden mosaic inlaid with ivory and shells is the most beautiful gift for people everywhere.

On the Syrian land Civilizations, innovations were successive as well human immigrations to Syria coming from the north - from Anatolian mountains or the sea- with greed in its wealth and unique strategic position. It was a meeting point for the ancient world. In spite of all these military and human crawling , it didn't change the temper of the original inhabitants who came consequently since the first centuries from the south of the Arabian Peninsula and settled there, from the far east of the island and Mesopotamia to the south of Palestine and the land of Sinai, and they were known once as Akkadians and once as Amorits (third millennium BC) And some times as Canaanites and Phoenicians (Coastal residents) And sometimes the Arameans (the inhabitant of the upper areas) and other times Ghassanin and Anabateans ( the Last migrations). These successive migrations preserved the Arabian style of the Syrian people since the dawn of history. Therefore they were able to stand up to all human migrations which invaded Syria such as Hittet, Persian, Greece and Roman.

When the Arabian Islamic conquest arrived in (626) it asserted the Syrian Arabic identity, stood up in the face of invasion against the Syrian lands and restored essence and authenticity to the land.

Syria is always described as (a summary of the of the world history). Major civilizations interacted on its land. Knowledge, innovations, human gender increasing, discoveries and religions emerged in Syria. Its land, has been but a real accumulation of these epics for more than eight thousands years.

Since the third millennium BC, Syria linked between Mesopotamia and the Nile valley. Since the first millennium BC Syria constituted a link between the Mediterranean world and the Far East.

This unique location gave it a strategic rank and considering it as a meeting- point of three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) and a cross-point for international roads. The Silk Road that came from China passed through its land. Its first Syrian destination was Dura Oorobs (Alsalhia) Then Palmyra and Homs until it reaches the Mediterranean Sea ports.

Syrian land was the most bright and tender center in Greek and Roman eras. Most of the Roman emperors were Syrians from Homs and Shehba. The Phoenician language emerged from Syria and remained the language of commerce and diplomacy in the ancient world for a long time. Islam and Christianity firstly emerged from its land and it is connected with its memories, traditions and divines. Christian society started in Antakya in the first century. Messenger Bolus started his journey of faith from Damascus and its straight road. Jesus Christ language is still spoken in Ma' lula and in Gab 'adain.

While the Islamic and Arabic civilization started spreading its lights, Syria became its beating heart and its bright main center after Damascus became the capital of the flourished Umayyad state. Up till now Syria still preserves its original type in the language of its people, its life- style and ideology.

After all that no wonder that every human all over world is in debited with his ideas, art and accomplishments to this native land where the human civilizations were brought up and must feel as belonged to Syria as to his own homeland. It is truly said that every person in the world has two countries: his original homeland and Syria.