Phoenician Figures
Third millennium BC: The Phoenicians are the first known settlers in Lebanon, where they are involved in the regional trade between the Middle Eastern hinterland and countries around the Mediterranean. Their religion is characterized by the worship of a range of gods, such as Melqart, Astarte, Echmoun and Baal. Around 1500 BC, Lebanon falls under Egyptian rule for about 200 years.
Around 850 BC: Lebanon falls under Assyrian and later (590 BC) Babylonian rule.
333 BC: The Persian Empire is conquered by Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia and Lebanon falls under Greek rule.
Around 850 BC: Lebanon falls under Assyrian and later (590 BC) Babylonian rule.
333 BC: The Persian Empire is conquered by Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia and Lebanon falls under Greek rule.
64 BC: Lebanon, together with Syria and Palestine, is added to the Roman Empire, which is characterized by the Pax Romana. Beirut becomes the most important city in the region and the military and commercial metropolis of the Romans in the East. After the first century, Christianity is spread in Lebanon and becomes the official religion in 381.
395: The Roman Empire is divided in two, after which Lebanon becomes part of the Byzantine Empire with Constantinople - now Istanbul - as its capital. Orthodox Christianity becomes deeply rooted. In the fifth century, after a period of religious strife, a group of Christians separate from Orthodox Christianity and call themselves Maronites.
551: A big earthquake triggering a devastating tsunami hits Lebanon - from Tyre to Tripoli - and completely ruins Roman Beirut.
636: Lebanon falls into the hands of the Arabs. Islam becomes Lebanon’s law and official religion and soon Arabic becomes the country’s official language. From 636 until 1098, Lebanon falls under four different Arab dynasties, respectively ruled from Damascus (the Umayyads, 661-750), Baghdad (the Abbasids, 750 - 969), Cairo (the Fatimids, 969 - 1055) and Isfahan (the Seljuks, 1055 - 1098). During this period Christianity is maintained, yet Christians are increasingly suppressed by the Arabs. Around 1000, a new Islamic religion is born called Druze.
1098: Lebanon is occupied by Crusaders, named Franks by the Arabs. In 1099, the country gets divided in two: the Kingdom of Tripoli (the north) and Kingdom of Jerusalem (the south, including Beirut, Saida and Tyre).
1283: The Maronites, supporters of the Crusaders, come under attack from the Mamluks, a Sunni Sultan tribe of former slaves ruled from Cairo, and soon the whole of Lebanon - at this time predominantly Shi’ite and Christian - falls under Mamluk control. The Mamluks start to suppress the Shi’ites, who from Mount Lebanon flee to Tyre and the Beqaa Valley. To escape from suppression, many Christians and Shi’ites convert to Sunni Islam and the first Lebanese Sunni communities are developed in Tripoli, Beirut and Saida. Slowly the Shi’ites and Maronites start to resist the Mamluks.
1516 - 1860: The Turk and Sunni Ottomans take power in Lebanon, with the exception of Mount Lebanon, now becoming the ‘Mutassarifiah’. Mount Lebanon (Emirate of the Shouf) continues to be ruled by the Druze Maan family, with Fakhr el-Dine Maan II (1590-1635) as the most famous and powerful Emir. After Fakhr el-Dine II is executed in 1635, power is taken first by his nephew Mulhim and in 1657 by his son Ahmad Maan. After Ahmad’s death in 1697, the Sunni Shehab family takes over with the appointment of Bashir Shehab as the first Shehab Emir, followed by his cousin Haydar Shehab II in 1707. Under the influence of the Maronites, the Shehab family - changing Emir several times - gradually converts from Sunni Islam to Christianity, starting in 1750. Throughout this period, the Druze retain their feudal power in the area. With the appointment of Emir Bashir II in 1788, things start to change slowly. After ending the Druze power in 1825, Bashir II befriends with the Egyptian Pasha, helping him to rise in power in Syria and parts of Lebanon. Influenced by the Pasha, Bashir II raises taxes and demands disarmament of the Druze and Christians. In 1840, the whole country starts to rebel against Egyptian occupation and interference, and after British, Austrian and Ottoman intervention, Egyptian rule comes to an end, which also means the end of Bashir II. Supported by the British and the Maronite Patriarch, Bashir III is appointed Emir, but soon turns out to be incompetent. Meanwhile, the Druze – supported by the French and Ottomans - try to regain their old power, prosperity and estates, which have largely been taken over by the Maronites. In 1841, a bloody conflict starts between the Druze - supported by the Ottomans - and the Maronites, soon spreading throughout the whole country. In January 1842, the rule of Bashir III and the Shehab family comes to an end and Omar Pasha becomes the new governor. In 1843, Mount Lebanon gets divided into two administrative districts, one governed by a Druze and the other by a Christian. After an increase in tensions between the two groups, an actual religious war starts in 1860 with the Druze - supported by the Ottomans and British - attacking Maronite and Christian villages and massacring the local residents. The war ends that same year due to interventions by the Ottomans and French, and many Lebanese Christians emigrate to the Americas.
1915 - 1918: As the result of a blockade of the Mediterranean coast initiated by the Ottoman Pasha, Lebanon is besieged by disease, plagues and famine, and many Lebanese leave the country. After the 1915 Armenian genocide by the Ottomans, numerous Armenians settle in Lebanon. In 1918, resulting from the defeat of Germany in World War I, the Arab revolt and the interference by British forces, the Ottoman Empire is finally dismantled.
1920 - 1922: Following the signature of the Sykes-Picot Agreement between France and England in 1916, Lebanon and Syria resort under French Mandate. In Beirut, the French - supporters of the Maronites - proclaim the creation of Greater Lebanon (“back to its natural borders” amputated in 1516), including Mount Lebanon, the Beqaa, Tyre, Saida, Beirut and Tripoli, enriching the country with an agricultural and coastal region. This plan is opposed by the Pan-Arab Muslims, who do not welcome the idea of being part of a Christian-dominated order. At this time, the Christians outnumber the Muslims in the country. In 1922, the Lebanese Constitution is drawn up under French supervision and includes the French Mandate over Lebanon.
1926: Although still under French protection, Lebanon becomes a separate republic and the Lebanese constitution becomes the law of the land. Executive power is given to the president, assisted by a cabinet of ministers, while legislative power is held by the parliament, whose members are partly appointed by the French and partly elected by the people. Under the constitution, political power is informally divided amongst religious sects, stating that “as a temporary measure … and for the sake of justice and concord the religious communities shall be equitably represented in public employment and in the formation of the Cabinet…”.
1929: As proclaimed by the French in 1920, Greater Lebanon receives its present borders. Consequently, the percentage of Muslims grows considerably, yet independence of Lebanon is still not gained.
1932: An official census is performed, with Christians slightly in the majority. As a result, Maronites are given significant powers within the newly established state.
1936: During the Conference of the Coast held in Beirut, leaders from Lebanon and Syria meet to discuss whether Lebanon should either form a unity with Syria or become an independent state.
1940: Lebanon falls under Vichy control - German occupied France - which is ended by the free French and English in 1941, promising Lebanon complete independence.
395: The Roman Empire is divided in two, after which Lebanon becomes part of the Byzantine Empire with Constantinople - now Istanbul - as its capital. Orthodox Christianity becomes deeply rooted. In the fifth century, after a period of religious strife, a group of Christians separate from Orthodox Christianity and call themselves Maronites.
551: A big earthquake triggering a devastating tsunami hits Lebanon - from Tyre to Tripoli - and completely ruins Roman Beirut.
636: Lebanon falls into the hands of the Arabs. Islam becomes Lebanon’s law and official religion and soon Arabic becomes the country’s official language. From 636 until 1098, Lebanon falls under four different Arab dynasties, respectively ruled from Damascus (the Umayyads, 661-750), Baghdad (the Abbasids, 750 - 969), Cairo (the Fatimids, 969 - 1055) and Isfahan (the Seljuks, 1055 - 1098). During this period Christianity is maintained, yet Christians are increasingly suppressed by the Arabs. Around 1000, a new Islamic religion is born called Druze.
1098: Lebanon is occupied by Crusaders, named Franks by the Arabs. In 1099, the country gets divided in two: the Kingdom of Tripoli (the north) and Kingdom of Jerusalem (the south, including Beirut, Saida and Tyre).
1283: The Maronites, supporters of the Crusaders, come under attack from the Mamluks, a Sunni Sultan tribe of former slaves ruled from Cairo, and soon the whole of Lebanon - at this time predominantly Shi’ite and Christian - falls under Mamluk control. The Mamluks start to suppress the Shi’ites, who from Mount Lebanon flee to Tyre and the Beqaa Valley. To escape from suppression, many Christians and Shi’ites convert to Sunni Islam and the first Lebanese Sunni communities are developed in Tripoli, Beirut and Saida. Slowly the Shi’ites and Maronites start to resist the Mamluks.
1516 - 1860: The Turk and Sunni Ottomans take power in Lebanon, with the exception of Mount Lebanon, now becoming the ‘Mutassarifiah’. Mount Lebanon (Emirate of the Shouf) continues to be ruled by the Druze Maan family, with Fakhr el-Dine Maan II (1590-1635) as the most famous and powerful Emir. After Fakhr el-Dine II is executed in 1635, power is taken first by his nephew Mulhim and in 1657 by his son Ahmad Maan. After Ahmad’s death in 1697, the Sunni Shehab family takes over with the appointment of Bashir Shehab as the first Shehab Emir, followed by his cousin Haydar Shehab II in 1707. Under the influence of the Maronites, the Shehab family - changing Emir several times - gradually converts from Sunni Islam to Christianity, starting in 1750. Throughout this period, the Druze retain their feudal power in the area. With the appointment of Emir Bashir II in 1788, things start to change slowly. After ending the Druze power in 1825, Bashir II befriends with the Egyptian Pasha, helping him to rise in power in Syria and parts of Lebanon. Influenced by the Pasha, Bashir II raises taxes and demands disarmament of the Druze and Christians. In 1840, the whole country starts to rebel against Egyptian occupation and interference, and after British, Austrian and Ottoman intervention, Egyptian rule comes to an end, which also means the end of Bashir II. Supported by the British and the Maronite Patriarch, Bashir III is appointed Emir, but soon turns out to be incompetent. Meanwhile, the Druze – supported by the French and Ottomans - try to regain their old power, prosperity and estates, which have largely been taken over by the Maronites. In 1841, a bloody conflict starts between the Druze - supported by the Ottomans - and the Maronites, soon spreading throughout the whole country. In January 1842, the rule of Bashir III and the Shehab family comes to an end and Omar Pasha becomes the new governor. In 1843, Mount Lebanon gets divided into two administrative districts, one governed by a Druze and the other by a Christian. After an increase in tensions between the two groups, an actual religious war starts in 1860 with the Druze - supported by the Ottomans and British - attacking Maronite and Christian villages and massacring the local residents. The war ends that same year due to interventions by the Ottomans and French, and many Lebanese Christians emigrate to the Americas.
1915 - 1918: As the result of a blockade of the Mediterranean coast initiated by the Ottoman Pasha, Lebanon is besieged by disease, plagues and famine, and many Lebanese leave the country. After the 1915 Armenian genocide by the Ottomans, numerous Armenians settle in Lebanon. In 1918, resulting from the defeat of Germany in World War I, the Arab revolt and the interference by British forces, the Ottoman Empire is finally dismantled.
1920 - 1922: Following the signature of the Sykes-Picot Agreement between France and England in 1916, Lebanon and Syria resort under French Mandate. In Beirut, the French - supporters of the Maronites - proclaim the creation of Greater Lebanon (“back to its natural borders” amputated in 1516), including Mount Lebanon, the Beqaa, Tyre, Saida, Beirut and Tripoli, enriching the country with an agricultural and coastal region. This plan is opposed by the Pan-Arab Muslims, who do not welcome the idea of being part of a Christian-dominated order. At this time, the Christians outnumber the Muslims in the country. In 1922, the Lebanese Constitution is drawn up under French supervision and includes the French Mandate over Lebanon.
1926: Although still under French protection, Lebanon becomes a separate republic and the Lebanese constitution becomes the law of the land. Executive power is given to the president, assisted by a cabinet of ministers, while legislative power is held by the parliament, whose members are partly appointed by the French and partly elected by the people. Under the constitution, political power is informally divided amongst religious sects, stating that “as a temporary measure … and for the sake of justice and concord the religious communities shall be equitably represented in public employment and in the formation of the Cabinet…”.
1929: As proclaimed by the French in 1920, Greater Lebanon receives its present borders. Consequently, the percentage of Muslims grows considerably, yet independence of Lebanon is still not gained.
1932: An official census is performed, with Christians slightly in the majority. As a result, Maronites are given significant powers within the newly established state.
1936: During the Conference of the Coast held in Beirut, leaders from Lebanon and Syria meet to discuss whether Lebanon should either form a unity with Syria or become an independent state.
1940: Lebanon falls under Vichy control - German occupied France - which is ended by the free French and English in 1941, promising Lebanon complete independence.