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Jan 1, 1516
The Ottoman Sultan Takes Control
The ottoman sultan and his army arrive in Syria
Ruled by a provincial administration in Damascus.
There is unrest, turmoil and violence until firm ottoman control seals the area from the surrounding influence. -
Period: Jan 1, 1516 to
The Ottoman Centuries
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Napolean Enters Syria
Napoleon enters Syria to stop Turkish violence against Egypt. 13,000 French soldiers enter Syria and take control of most coastal towns. -
Mohammed Takes Control
Mohammed Ali seizes Palestine and Syria from his master, the sultan.
The campaign is head by Ali's son, Ibrahim Pasha, who later becomes the general of the area. -
Help Comes
Britain, Austria and russia aid the sultan in regaining control. -
The Beggining of Jewish settlement in Syria/Palestine.
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WWI
The region known as the Ottoman Empire is changed. The empire is torn into the territories known as Syria, Lebanon, Palestine (now including Israel), Jordan, and Iraq. -
The War Ends
In early November the war ends when Germany seeks an armistice. -
Armistice and Adoption
The treaty with the Ottoman empire is signed on August 1920 at Sévres.
In 1920 the league of nations allots to France the mandate for Syria and Lebanon. -
Period: to
French Mandate
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The Great Syrian Revolution
1925 Full-scale warfare arises between Syria and France. The Great Syrian Revolution lasted two years. It was brought about by the French imposing a form of rule that disregarded Syria's want for self-government. Led by Sultan al-Atrash, the Syrian's win several encounters with the French until French reinforcements turn the tide. The revolution is not suppressed until 1927. Al-Atrash is sentenced to death but escapes into exile. -
Republic of Syria
France attempts treaty allowing Syrian independence. Syria signs, and now calls themselves the Republic of Syria. -
Resignation
On the brink of world war, the Syrian's show no sign of keeping the treaty. In July 1939 the Syrian president and parliament resign. -
Post WWII
A year after WWII the country is being governed in democratic form, consisting of the parties that were involved with the war against France. -
Period: to
Post WWII
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Syrian Defeat
Arab-Israeli war has Syria defeated, as well as other Arab states. This war prompted a series of coups d' états, overthrowing Arab governments in one year, and a fourth coup in 1954 -
The Ba'ath
Military introduces parliamentary government with elections. A party is created known as the Ba'ath (Arabic word for renewal and renaissance). Unity, liberty and socialism is the party's slogan, and it defines exactly what Syria wants, liberty from colonial rule and left-wing politics. -
The Merge
Due to Ba'thist influence, Syria merges with Egypt, forming the United Arab Republic. Together, the region was to be ruled by a single government with Syrian and Egyptian politicians, as well as Ba'thist creed of Arab unity. This gave both countries a stronger force against Communist parties within their borders. -
Withdraw from the Union
The United Arab Republic fails due to Egypt becoming the more dominant partner, and Syria withdrawing from the Union. -
One more Coup
Another coup is attempted, this time being led by the Ba'ath party. The party put in place a civilian administration. One of the junior officers is Hafez al-Assad, a ruthless soldier. -
Assad
Another Ba'thist coup. The party's constitutional government is replaced with a military one in which al-Assad becomes minister of defense. -
Six-Day War
Al-Assad's political skills allow him to survive the Six-Day War, in which Israel captures Syria's strategically important Golan Heights. -
Assad's Coup
The effective ruler of the country, Salah Jadid (not president, that is Nureddin al-Atassi) dismisses al-Assad from being minister of defense due to his increasing power base. Assad's reaction is a coup against his own country, resulting with al-Assad's victory. With full power in his hands, Jadid and his party are immediately purged. Jadid is arrested and remains until his death in 1993. -
Prime Minister
Al-Assad becomes prime minister. His ruthless methods make Syria a police state. -
Hama Massacre
Uprising led by Muslim brotherhood, more than 70 leading Ba'athists were killed. Hama is declared a liberated city before Assad's troops arrive to exact heavy reprisals. Hama is bombed for a week, killing between 25,000 to 40,000, mostly innocent people. -
The Start of a Dynasty
Assad attempts to begin a dynasty, which makes his eldest son, Bassel al-Assad, the next ruler. Soon Bassel is appointed head of presidential security. However due to Bassel's obsession with fast cars, he gets into a car crash in 1994 and instantly dies. After his death Bashar, his younger brother who is studying in London as a postgraduate ophthalmologist, is immediately recalled to Syria. Bashar is not known well with the republic. -
The Statement of 99
Hafez al-Assad dies at the age of 69. Bashar is officially the elected president. A document is created by the people known as the Statement of 99, which calls for a modern democratic society, legal protection for free speech and free assembly, political prisoners to be released and surveillance from everyday life be suspended. The government responds positively, and the public is greeted with their wants being granted. -
The Statement of 1000
The relaxed atmosphere ends, and a more demanding document is created with ten times, as many signatories, the Statement of 1000. -
The Protests Begin
Protestors want the resignation of Bashar al-Assad. Protests grow higher when word spreads around Syria. A rebellion strikes, claiming a large section of the country. Eventually even soldiers join the rebels, giving aid and weaponry to them.
