Syria is the cradle of civilization, and the accomplishments of her ancient peoples are renowned throughout the world.

It was here that agriculture began ten thousand years ago; Syria also presented the world with another discovery.It was here that copper was made pliable and bronze was invented. The kingdom of Ugarit (Ras Shamra) offered mankind the first alphabet in history. The Amorites, the Kanaanites and Phoenicians inhabited the coastal regions, the Arameans were the highlander, and the Nabateans inhabited the south.

Successive waves of migrations from the Arab Peninsula gave an Arab identity to Syria, and it managed to withstand the invasions by Hittites, Persians, Greeks and Romans. The Islamic conquest of 636 A. D. only confirmed this Arab identity and gave a sense of the land.

The immense strategic importance of Syria is due to her unique position as a meeting of three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), and as a crossroad between the Caspian Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Black Sea, and the Nile River. Through Syria lay the silk route which led from China to Doura Europos (Salhiyeh), from Palmyra and Homs to the Syrian ports on Mediterranean, where for thousands of years Syrian seafarers had ridden the wave in their enormous fleets with gleaming white sails.

This geographical position lent distinction to the country, not only as a trade and caravan route, but also a melting pot of diverse ideas, beliefs, talents, and cultures.

A journey through Syria is a journey through time. When you enter the old souks you realize that history is some time alive and tangible, something you can see and touch.

Syria is often described as the largest small country in the world because of its wealth of ancient civilization. Modern man is indebted to this land for much of his thought and learning. Indeed it was aptly said that every intellectual has two homelands: his own, and Syria.