Syria

From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.

A map of Syria

Syria is a country in the Middle East, the west part of Asia. It borders (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey. Its western part faces the Mediterranean Sea. Its eastern and northern parts are mountainous.

The current president is Bashar al-Assad. He is also head of state. Syria's national capital is Damascus.

Syria has fourteen provinces, or muhafazat:

• Al Hasakah
• Al Ladhiqiyah
• Al Qunaytirah
• Ar Raqqah
• As Suwayda
• Dara
• Dayr az Zawr
• Dimashq
• Halab
• Hamah
• Hims
• Idlib
• Rif Dimashq
• Tartus

[edit] History

Syria has a very long history. It was a land of Phoenicians. Later it became a part of the Roman Empire and then the East Roman Empire. In those days people spoke the Syrian language. The city Antioche was great and one of the important cities in the world of Christianity. It was conquered by Muslims and most of the people changed their faith from Christianity to Islam. People began to speak the Arabic language. Today most Syrian people believe in Islam but there are Christians too.

Syria was part of the Arab League with Egypt once. Syria had some wars with Israel and some territories like the Golan Plateau were occupied by Israel.