Introduction Welcome to Syria, a country with thousands of years of eventful history leading back to the dawn of time. Home to two of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Damascus and Aleppo, Syria takes pride in its long history and in its role in shaping the destiny of the Middle East and beyond, right up to the present day. Syria and its people have much cause for pride, and not just for things past: Syrian culture and cuisine, language and music have all attained fame and won admiration throughout the Arab world. However, Syria’s political behaviors and involvement with terrorist groups represent a cause for concern. In the following pages, these and other facets of Syria—past, present, and future—will be brought into perspective.
Welcome to Syria, a country with thousands of years of eventful history leading back to the dawn of time. Home to two of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Damascus and Aleppo, Syria takes pride in its long history and in its role in shaping the destiny of the Middle East and beyond, right up to the present day. Syria and its people have much cause for pride, and not just for things past: Syrian culture and cuisine, language and music have all attained fame and won admiration throughout the Arab world. However, Syria’s political behaviors and involvement with terrorist groups represent a cause for concern. In the following pages, these and other facets of Syria—past, present, and future—will be brought into perspective.
