SYRIA By: Shashank Kaul, Dhruv Patel, Camden O'Neill, Philip Paik

Geography of Syria

Contiguous countries Iraq 605 km Israel 76 km Jordan 375 km Lebanon 375 km Turkey 822 km

64 districts of syria ALLEPPO (220 miles.) The legend holds that prophet Abraham once milked his cow atop its hill. Aleppo dominated the trade routes connecting East and West and is known as today’s second largest Syrian city still plays a key economic role. Most important sites: medieval Suqs (which are covered and wind through the old city for more than 8 miles, Grand Mosque, National Museum.

HOMS 100 miles. Homs contains an important oil refinery and many major factories, plants and mills. HAMA 90 miles An old and timeless city famed by its Norias- the huge wooden waterwheels that have been scooping water from the Orontes and pouring it into irrigation canals for centuries. Important sites: Museum, Grand Mosque. At 35 miles, north-west: the ruins of APAMEA, LATAKIA 120 miles One of the 5 cities built in the 3rd century B.C. Today it is Syria's principal port on the Mediterranean. medieval castles and archeological sites.

-2.6 Million people -74% Sunni Muslim -16% Other Muslim Groups -10% Other (predominantly Christian)

-Arabs -Kurds -Aramaic tribes -French decedents from settlers -Greek Decedents -Circassians ( indigenous culture group) -Turcoman

History Early Second Millennium BC – Conquered by the Hittite Kingdom Later conquered by the Persians 64AD Romans conquer Syria and name it a Roman Province Afterwards the Byzantine Empire conquered Syria Then conquered by the Islamic Empire Finally is conquered by the Ottoman Turks 1967 – Syria wins Independence

Economy The economy revolves around agriculture, oil, industry, and tourism. There GDP is 64.7 billion dollars There GDP growth is -14% Labor Force is million people Their unemployment is 12.3% Their revenues is billion dollars Expenses are billion dollars

Sectors of the economy Agriculture- wheat, barley, sugar, and cotton are the most grown crops. Water and energy are the biggest issues facing it. Mining- Phosphates are the major minerals exploited in Syria. Other major minerals are cement, salt, steel. Oil- syria is the only significant oil producing country in the Eastern Mediterranean region. However it only produces.5% of the global production

Cont. Industry and Manufacturing- accounted for 27.3 % of the domestic products and employed about 16% of the labor force. Tourism- 1.1 million people have visited Syria by Labor- Population growth rate is 2.37%. Around 70% of the work force earn less then 100 dollars per month

Civil War The Civil War is between forces loyal to the Ba’ath party and those seeking to destroy it It began on March The protesters demand the resignation of the President Bashar al-Asssas More then people have died and more then people have left the country

How it started In January 2011, revolution in Tunisia marked the start of the so-called Arab Spring. In March 2011, violence broke out in Daraa, Syria, after a group of children and teenagers were arrested for writing political graffiti. Dozens of people were killed when security forces cracked down on protesters. Since then, the violence has only increased, spreading throughout the country and became a full fledge civil war.

Citation…. a-MajorCities.htmhttp:// a-MajorCities.htm -world-factbook/geos/sy.htmlhttps:// -world-factbook/geos/sy.html "History of Syria." Made in Syria. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov