This is Part 1 of 5 of the Syria 101 series. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from ancient days to 1900, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:

• The difference between Ancient Syria, Greater Syria, and modern borders


• How geography (rivers, cities, trade routes) made Syria a crossroads of civilization


• The rise of Ebla, the Arameans, and the spread of Aramaic


• How empires from Rome to the Ottomans shaped Syrian culture and cities


• Why Syria was so religiously and ethnically diverse under Ottoman rule


• How Ottoman decline + European involvement + Arab nationalism set the stage for modern Syria

If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to ⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠. You can pay for it a la carte for $3, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Sources used in the making of this episode.

Transcript for this episode.

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