Syria gained
independence in 1946, despite being a new country on the lands situated. These lands
considered to be cradle of many civilation, in a sense, which are the contact points of
east and west civilizations. On Syria lands, which are the natural part of Anatolia, had
lived together with Turk and Islam civilizations, in addition to east civilizations such
as Sumer, Asur, and west civizationns such as Macedoning Roma. Syria was invaded firstly
by Pers and then with the invasion of Iskender it was given to Macedonions. Around
B.C 60 with the domination of Romans, Syria principality was established.
Just after the rise of Islam, in the period of
first Caliph Ebubekir, Islam army, which was commanded by Halid Bin Velid, entered the
lands of Syria in 636, and conqured himself Damascus. And then ,Caliph Ömer went to
Jerusalem and conducted the organization of Syria. Thus the region was taken completely
under control of Muslims.During the reign of Emeviler , Syria developed remarkably. Both
coastal cities and interior regions had become trade centers.With the weakness of
Abbasiler and Emeviler. Syria’s integrity was ruined and at end of X.
Century Shi’i Fadimiler took over Syria. However ,unity and solidarity were gained by
Turks on these lands, after the Victory of Malazgirt 1071. With Middle Asia Migrations
started in XI. Century, Turks had settled in North of Syria.
After
the Victory of Dandanakan of Seljuks, many Turk cans and tribes from Oguz reached Syria in
1063. Since then, they considered the region as their own native country. The first
regions Turks settled in were Aleppo and Lazkiye. Later, Turkmen settled towards
Mediterrannean Coast from Lazkiye to South Trablusşam and in the middle of the
region along Asia river, in Hama, Humus and Damascus-Seljuk Sultan the son of Kutalmış,
Süleyman,(1077-1086) conquered Çukurova, K.Maraş, Gaziantep, Antakya and the region
which are north Aleppo-Lazkiye line. Syria, Seljuk Sultan, Tutuş (1078-1095) took over
Syria lying towards Sina Peninsula, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine from the Fatimi. During the
Crusade started in 1906, Islam Armies, commanded by Selahaddin Eyyubi, entered in Syria
and get in alliance with Turks, then defended Syria.
After
all these developments, Atabey State owned by Eyyubis, which was established by Seladdin
Eyyubi (1183-1250) and Eyyubi State by Turk Memluk Sultanlığı(1250-1517).In 1516, with
the defeat of Memluks, Syria lands were taken over by Ottoman Government.U ntil the
end of I.World War ,Syria, which was managed like Damascus ,Trablusgarb,Aleppo
provinces, under control of Ottoman; lived its most peaceful and comfortable term from
social, cultural and economic points. After war, the English and allies entered in
Damascus in 24 September 1918, and then stepped into Aleppo in 2 September 1918.
Altough those who took over Syria from Ottomans are English, İn the Middle Ages Syria was
turned over France which had established a Crusade state in Syria and Lebanon Coast.
The
domination of France on Syria attended until the end of I. World War. After war in 1944,
although Syria was considered to be an independent country by Russia and America, France
didn’t recede from Syria. Because it wanted to sign a ”special treaty” which will
keep on the dependence relations of mandate term and guaranteed economic, cultural,
strategic concession.
Independence for Syria should have been a new beginning
of another colonialism, rather than to have an authority on its internal and external
matters. In 5 April 1946, after France had receded from Syria, America and England had
been rivals for the dominance of Syria. And then, Russia had also been one of rivals.
After 1947 free election, the first military coup was of General Hüsnü Zaim, in 30 March
1949, with the help of CIA. From the 1949 coup of Zaim to 1970 coup of Esad, there had
been mounted 10 successful coups and about 10 of unsuccessful. After this period in Syria
history is called as “Esad Term”
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