Syria: Outline and Ancient, Medieval and Modern Interests

First, this is dated by nearly 30 years. Second, our interest is the Ancient Near East, OT history, Graeco-Roman periods, Muslim Conquest, Ottoman period and the Orthodox religious expressions. Again, this forum expresses very wide Biblical, historical, Confessional (Reformed), and liturgical (Anglicanism, but revised) interests. Third, although this article won't help for recent concerns, our interest extends to the modern Iran-Syria-Soviet axis.  Fourth, there is a desire for a manageable and current bibliography consisting of serious academics on modern Syrian history.

Off hand, the country is 1.5 times the size of North Carolina and 1.5 times the size of England. 

Various authors. Encyclopedia Britannica (15^th ed.). “Syria.” Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985.

Physical and human geography

The land

1.      Relief

2.      Drainage

3.      Soils

4.      Climate

5.      Plant and animal life

6.      Traditional regions

7.      Settlement patterns

The people

1.      Population groups

2.      Demography

The economy

1.      Resources

2.      Agriculture, forestry, and fishing

3.      Industry

4.      Finance

5.      Trade

6.      Administration of the economy

7.      Transportation

Administrative and Social Conditions

1.      Government

2.      Justice

3.      Armed Forces

4.      Education

5.      Health and Welfare

Cultural Life

1.      The Cultural Milieu

2.      The States of the Arts

3.      Cultural Institutions

4.      Press and Broadcasting

History

1.      Early History

2.      Hellenistic and Roman Periods

A.    Hellenistic Age

B.    Roman Provincial Organization

C.    Economy and Culture

D.   Byzantine Syria

3.      Medieval Period

A.    Islamic Conquest

B.    The Umayyads

C.    The ‘Abbasids

D.   From the 9^th to the 12^th Century

E.    The Ayyubids and Mamluks

4.      The Ottoman Period

A.    Ottoman Government, 16^th-17^th Centuries

B.    Decline in Ottoman Authority

C.    Egyptian Domination

D.   Ottoman Rule Restored

E.    World War 1

5.      Mandate and Independence

A.    The French Mandate

B.    World War 11 and Independence

6.      Syria After Independence

A.    The Colonels

B.    The Union with Egypt, 1958-1961

C.    The “Secessionist” Regime, 1961-1963

D.   Ba’this Syria After 1963

Open Doors: Growth of Christianity in Iran 'Explosive'

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15741

Open Doors: Growth of Christianity in Iran 'Explosive'
By Alex Murashko http://www.christianpost.com/news/open-doors-growth-of-christianity-in-iran-explosive-71946/
March 23, 2012

Despite the Iranian government's ongoing crackdown of Christians living in the primarily Islamic country, the number of Muslims converting to become Christians is growing at an explosive rate, according to the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA.

There is even talk of witnessing a Christian revival, especially among young people living in the country, say Open Doors ministry workers in the Middle East.

A house church movement within Iran is part of that revival and has triggered "many secret meetings." The growth in the number of Christians is happening in all regions, but mostly in larger cities, say Open Doors workers in the region.

Iran is ranked 5th on the Open Doors 2012 World Watch List of the top 50 worst persecutors of Christians.

"Open Doors workers think that the growth of Christianity has everything to do with Iranians getting to know the real face of Islam, the official religion of Iran, and the mistrust of the people toward the government and leaders following the fraudulent 2009 presidential election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," said a Middle East worker for Open Doors (name withheld for security reasons).

Since the beginning of this year, authorities have arrested Christian converts in Tehran, Ahwaz, Shiraz, Isfahan and Kermanshah, according to news reports from the Middle East and U.S.

In one city alone, Isfahan, more than a dozen Christians were arrested in less than a month, beginning in late February.

As The Christian Post has previously reported, although the established church in countries such as Iran suffers great violence, it is the underground, invisible church that continues to grow. Christians are putting their lives at risk for their continued faith.

According to Open Doors USA President and CEO Carl Moeller, a stream of Christianity has arisen in the Middle East's invisible church, sometimes referred to as the Muslim Background Believer Church.

"Men and women, out of emptiness of their current situation spiritually, are turning to faith in Jesus Christ despite the literally lethal risks in doing so," Moeller said. "That's only attributable to the work of the Holy Spirit."

Also, at work is a common personality trait of the Iranian people, says another Open Doors worker from the Middle East region.

"Iranians are very outgoing and want to speak about their faith," the ministry worker said. "That is why discipleship training (with elements of outreach and communications) for Iranian believers is successful. If you tell them that a Christian should share, the Iranian Christian shares."

An estimated 200 Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) were living in Iran 40 years ago, according to Open Doors. Now, the number of MBBs is estimated to be 370,000.

Iran also has the presence of the traditional Armenian and Assyrian church with about 80,000 members, Open Doors reports. These churches are presently free to have meetings in the language of its members, but they are not allowed to reach out to the Farsi-speaking Muslims.

According to the Iranian government, there are about 200,000 Christians living in Iran, Open Doors stated.

SEE VIDEO REPORT ON CHRISTIANITY BEING THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN IRAN: http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/christianity-the-fastest-growing-religion-in-iran-2570

Open Doors: An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors supports and strengthens believers in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers.

On the Web: www.OpenDoorsUSA.org

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