Ancient tablets deciphered to enlighten the eastern world
Syria, History, 3/19/2001

In a statement to Arabic News, renowned Syrian Researcher and Architect Dr. Nuhad J. Abdallah said that vestiges of architectural buildings, diverse kinds of clay pieces, statues, variety of tools in addition to clay tablets- which were written, dried and concealed since thousands of years- brought up to life again after long oblivion and deciphered to enlighten the eastern world for more than three thousand years BC.

He said that the Syrian coast did not draw the attention of the world by its importance in the old history. The only thing known about it before the 3rd millennium BC, that the Cannanite settlements were scattered there till they were invaded by the Persian, then the Greek and the Romans thereafter whose vestiges are still preserved. Later they were annexed to the Byzantine Empire till the Islamic conquest.

That was the image known earlier about Syria and its coast. Till 1928 when Ugarit was discovered, it was found out that the Syrian coast was inhabited for the first time in the middle of the 7th Millennium BC and that the Kingdom of Mari had flourished in it in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. After the Discovery of Mari in 1933, it was found out that the Kingdom was inhabited since the 4th and 5th Millennium BC.

In 1968 AD, Ebla was discovered to be the other new kingdom that flourished in the third Millennium BC. Besides many hills were also discovered dating back to the 3rd and 4th Millennium BC even some were dating back to the 8th Millennium BC.

In 1595 BC after the fall of the first Babylonian state, small kingdoms and scattered towns flourished in Syria without being subsidized to any supreme power. Each city was representing and independent kingdom of its own with a king managing its affairs, signing its agreements and bids with whoever he found appropriate and these kingdoms are: Damascus, Aleppo, Qatana, Qadesh and in the coast were the Kingdoms of Ugarit and Simirra.

Talking about the most recent history of the Syrian coast, Dr. Abdallah added that the crusaders controlled a big part of the Syrian coast and the chain of the coastal mountains. They did not live in villages but they adopted the policy of controlling the regions from the castles they occupied, mostly in the Krack des Chevaliers, Salah eddine Castle and besides built new castles like Yahmur, Safita and many others.

He continued that the Syrian coast remained under the control of the crusaders till 1188 AD when Salah eddine al-Ayoubi attacked to regain the coast. He successively managed to retake the castles of Safita and Yahmur and many others. Then he headed towards the coast and reached Tartous, Banias and Jebleh, then towards lattakia and al-Marqeb castle.

In the Memluke period the region witnessed the division of Syria into six provinces.

By the Coming of the Ottomans who put an end to the rule of the Memlukes in Syria in the battle of Marj Dabeq on the 24th of August, 1516, the Syrian coast become part of the Ottoman Empire.

Dr Abdallah added that the Ottomans adopted a policy which forces great number of the inhabitants of the coastal cities to take refugee in the coastal mountains, established several new villages in addition to the old ones, and depended in their life on the simplest means possible that would guarantee their survival.

In 1831 AD and Egyptian expedition went to Syria under the leadership of Ibrahim Pasha, who occupied Lattakia in 1832 AD. In 1849 AD, and accord was signed between the Ottoman Sultan and some foreign countries to expel the Egyptians from Syria. And for this goal a British warship reached the port of Lattakia and its artilleries fired warning shots to terrify the Egyptians who consequently left the city.

The end of the Ottoman era was characterized by its administrative divisions. The coastal region of Syria in the end of the 19th century was annexed to Beirut dependency that consisted of five Sanjaks. They were Beirut, Akka, Tripoli, Lattakia and Naplis. The sanjak of Lattakia consisted of: Lattakia, Saone, Jebleh, and al-Marqab, while the Sanjak of Tripoli consisted of Husn al-Akrad, Safita and the areas of Tartous and Ò Arwad Ò island.

Later with the French and British secret accord known by Sykes- Picot signed in May in 1916,the French army officer Guy de La Roche was assigned to come to the region. In 1919 AD a revolution in the coastal mountains had started under the leadership of Sheikh Saleh al-Ali and lasted till 1921. Sheikh al-Ali was in contact with the revolution of Hanano in al-Zawiya Mountain. However, the French made several strong attacks, which as a result succeeded in suppressing the revolution.

Dr Abdallah continued that since 1920 Ad the French considered Lattakia as a province that includes several ÒQadaÕ and moudiriya ( directorates). On the 28th June 1922 General Gouraud created a confederation between the independent Syrian states: Aleppo, Dmascus, the Independent Coastal territories and al-Arab Mountain. General Weygand, who was nominated instead of Gouraud in early April 1923, abolished the confederation of the Syrian states. Moreover, he declared since the 1st January 1925, the independence of the coastal state makes Lattakia its capital.

Dr. Abdallah added that the incorporation of Lattakia territories to the Syrian State had been declared after signing the French- Syrian treaty on 9th of September in Paris.

On the 6th February 1939, the region of Lattakia had been detached again and considered an independent state following the visit of Colonel Billot to the region.

However, the situation remained as it is till Lattakia was permanently returned to Syria, the homeland, on the 20th December 1942.

Dr Abdallah concluded by saying that Lattakia Ôs reunion with the motherland Syria was in compliance with the demand of its dignified and national chiefs supported by their people along the coast and the mountain who were keen on the preservation of their national territories' unity, independence and sovereignty.

Previous Stories:
  Golden pieces discovered in Syria date back to the Umayyad era   (3/7/2001)
  Damascus Bimaristan Nureddine: The world's famous 12th century hospital   (12/18/2000)
  The discovery of an ancient city: Ugarit   (12/6/2000)

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