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1095
Crusades begin
Before this, Lebanon is a multinational state. Through religious wars and growth of empires, Lebanon becomes a religious and ethnic mosaic of Jews, Romans, Armenians, Persians, Greeks, Phoenecians, and Syrians. -
1250
Mamluks conquer Mount Lebanon
The Mongols end crusades and fight the Mamluks. The Mamluks won and conquered Mount Lebanon. Lebanese Shiities, considered friends of the Mongols, were persecuted, killed, and driven away to the mountains. -
1516
Ottomans seize Mount Lebanon
Ottomans defeated Mamluks and took the region. Despite the imperialism of the Turkish, Mount Lebanon enjoyed a surprising amount of autonomy for three centuries. Sunnis and Greeks Catholics dominated coastal cities, Druze, Shiites, and Maronites inhabited mountains, mountains became haven for persecuted minorities -
World War One
WWI begins. The Western Allied Forces (France and North African), fight in Lebanon against the Ottoman Empire. The Allied Forces eventually win the war. -
Lebanon taken from Ottomans
After an armistice, Lebanon is declared an “occupied enemy territory”. -
Lebanon is given to France
A mandate is signed giving Lebanon to the French. The League of Nations wants the French to help Lebanon work towards independence. -
Christian Immigrants
Cilicia is given back to Turkey. Turkish Christians and Armenian survivors of Turkish massacres flee to Lebanon. -
French rule in Lebanon
Under French rule the regions of Lebanon, with their varying religious and ethnic groups, are united as one multinational semi-autonomous region, officially part of the French Colonial Empire. -
Lebanese Constitution
The Lebanese constitution is completed, with specific outlines for religious representation in government. -
Loss of autonomy
France is at war with Germany. The Lebanese constitution is suspended and parliament dissolved. The Lebanese president (Émile Eddé) has hardly any power. -
War with Britain
French representative (Charles De Gaulle) appoints a “head of government” (Alfred Naccache) for Lebanon. President Eddé abdicates. Food is scarce because of British blockades, and the people are protesting. -
Lebanon is liberated
Lebanon is liberated by the British. French representatives, including Gaulle, leave for France -
French recognize president
The French finally recognize Naccache as the president of Lebanon. -
Pact for religious harmony
The Marionite president (Bechara al-Khoury) and Sunnite prime minister (Riad al-Solh) draw up a national pact for Muslims and Christians to commit themselves to living peacefully together. Both sides were to renounce attachment to larger pan-Arab and western powers -
Soverignty
Lebanon gains sovereignty from France. -
United Nations
Lebanon is one of the founding members of United Nations. -
French troops leave Lebanon
French troops finally leave Lebanon, marks the end of French territoriality in region -
Palestinian refugees
Arab-Israeli war begins, eventually bringing well over a 100,000 Palestinian refugees to Lebanon. -
Rise of pan-Arabism
First Lebanese president (Bechara al-Khoury) abdicates, supposedly elected fraudulently, when a general strike paralyzes the young state. An anti-Nasserist president (Camille Chamoun) succeeds and remains loyal to Western powers, while Nasserist pan-arabism appeal spreads throughout Lebanon. -
Nasserist insurrection
Pro-nasserist Lebanese journalist (Nasib al-Matni) is murdered, triggering insurrection. Though he was Maronite, insurgents are muslim. Lebanese army stayed neutral. -
US Marines in Lebanon
US marines land in Lebanon to protect from spreading Nasser influence. Lebanon remained somewhat stable, despite attempted coups and such. -
Palestinian camps in Southern Lebanon
Palestinian refugees took refuge in Southern Lebanon, near border, leading to frequent incursions from the Israeli army against Palestinian camps -
Period: to
Tensions over Israeli-Palestine conflict
Tensions rise in Lebanon as they attempt to remain neutral, despite danger and attacks between Palestinians and Israelis, eventually leading to civil war