Syria

Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east and southeast, Jordan to the south, and Israel and Lebanon to the southwest. It is a republic that consists of 14 governorates as subdivisions. A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including the Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Circassians, Armenians, Albanians, Greeks, and Chechens. Religious groups include Muslims, Christians, Alawites, and Druze. The capital and largest city is Damascus. Arabs are the largest ethnic group, and Sunni Muslims are the largest religious group. Syria is now the only country that is governed by Ba'athists, who advocate Arab socialism and Arab nationalism.

Some of the key events about Syria

64 BCE
Syria became a province of the Roman Empire, bringing significant cultural and architectural developments
661 CE
Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, ushering in a golden age of Islamic culture and science
1516
Syria became part of the Ottoman Empire, leading to centuries of relative stability and cultural exchange
1920
The Syrian National Congress proclaimed the independence of Syria from the Ottoman Empire
1920
Syria came under French mandate, limiting its independence
1946
Syria gained full independence from France, establishing itself as a sovereign nation
1960
Syria's first major oil field was discovered, boosting the country's economy
1963
A military coup established an authoritarian regime
1967
The ancient city of Ebla was discovered, providing invaluable insights into Bronze Age civilization
1967
Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel in the Six-Day War
1982
Thousands were killed in the Hama massacre
2000
Economic reforms failed to improve living standards for most Syrians
2011
Six Syrian heritage sites were added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, recognizing their cultural significance
2011
Peaceful protests escalated into a full-scale civil war
2013
Chemical weapons were used against civilians in Ghouta
2014
The Islamic State (ISIS) seized large parts of Syrian territory
2015
Russia's military intervention intensified the conflict
2018
The reopening of the National Museum of Damascus after being closed for six years due to conflict
2018
A suspected chemical attack in Douma prompted international outrage
3000 BCE
The city of Damascus was founded, becoming one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world

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