Interesting bit of Syrian history.
5 Bloody Battles That Defined Syria's History
Akhilesh Pillalamarri
October 15, 2016
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As the battle for Aleppo, in Syria, rages on, it is striking to note that Syria has a particularly long and bloody history, even by the standards of the Middle East. This is particularly true of a strip of land in the historical region of greater Syria. Consisting of a north-south axis stretching from southern Turkey, through all of Syria, and into northern Israel, this region has been a battlefield for great empires since ancient history.
Why? The answer is geography. Syria—and in particular western Syria—is littered with countless battle sites, because it is situated on the most traversable route between the major centers of power in the Middle East. Much of the southeast of modern Syria is desert, so an army coming from up from Mesopotamia (Iraq) or Persia (Iran) cannot strike due west; it has to travel up the Euphrates River in a semicircular direction, moving north, then west, and finally back south along the Mediterranean coast. Likewise, an army coming down from Turkey or Europe, like those of the Ottomans, Alexander the Great or the Crusaders, has to pass through western Syria to get to Egypt or the Arabian Peninsula. The converse holds true, as armies from Egypt have historically seen this route as the easiest path to Turkey and Iraq. It is no surprise that Syria’s pivotal location has long been the series of disputes and wars. Modern powers, including the United States, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as ISIS, all understand this, which is why the fight for Syria is so fierce.
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5 Bloody Battles That Defined Syria's History
5 Bloody Battles That Defined Syria's History
Akhilesh Pillalamarri
October 15, 2016
TweetShareShare
As the battle for Aleppo, in Syria, rages on, it is striking to note that Syria has a particularly long and bloody history, even by the standards of the Middle East. This is particularly true of a strip of land in the historical region of greater Syria. Consisting of a north-south axis stretching from southern Turkey, through all of Syria, and into northern Israel, this region has been a battlefield for great empires since ancient history.
Why? The answer is geography. Syria—and in particular western Syria—is littered with countless battle sites, because it is situated on the most traversable route between the major centers of power in the Middle East. Much of the southeast of modern Syria is desert, so an army coming from up from Mesopotamia (Iraq) or Persia (Iran) cannot strike due west; it has to travel up the Euphrates River in a semicircular direction, moving north, then west, and finally back south along the Mediterranean coast. Likewise, an army coming down from Turkey or Europe, like those of the Ottomans, Alexander the Great or the Crusaders, has to pass through western Syria to get to Egypt or the Arabian Peninsula. The converse holds true, as armies from Egypt have historically seen this route as the easiest path to Turkey and Iraq. It is no surprise that Syria’s pivotal location has long been the series of disputes and wars. Modern powers, including the United States, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as ISIS, all understand this, which is why the fight for Syria is so fierce.
Continue reading at:
5 Bloody Battles That Defined Syria's History
