Lebanon

Lore & Background

Human habitation in Lebanon dates to 5000 BC. From 3200 to 539 BC, it was part of Phoenicia. In 64 BC, the region became part of the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire. After the seventh century, it came under various Arab Islamic caliphates. The 11th century saw Christian Crusader states, which fell to the Ayyubids and Mamluks. Lebanon came under Ottoman rule in the early 16th century. Under Sultan Abdulmejid I, the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate was established. After World War I, Lebanon came under the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, which established Greater Lebanon. By 1943, Lebanon gained independence from Free France and established a confessional government. The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) shattered stability. Lebanon was occupied by Syria from 1976 to 2005 and by Israel from 1985 to 2000. It has been the scene of several conflicts with Israel; the ongoing war marks the fourth Israeli invasion since 1978.

Reader's Guide

Lebanon is a developing country, ranked 102nd on the Human Development Index and classified as lower-middle-income. The Lebanese liquidity crisis, nationwide corruption, and the 2020 Beirut explosion precipitated currency collapse, political instability, resource shortages, high unemployment, and poverty. The World Bank defined Lebanon's economic crisis as one of the world's worst since the 19th century. Lebanese culture is renowned globally, powered by the large Lebanese diaspora. Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and the Arab League, and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the Group of 77.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Lebanon' originates from the Phoenician root 'lbn' meaning 'white', apparently from its snow-capped peaks.
• The name occurs nearly 70 times in the Hebrew Bible as Ləḇānon.
• Lebanon as an administrative unit was introduced with the Ottoman reforms of 1861 as the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate.
• The Natufian culture became sedentary in the region at around 12000 BC.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Lebanon minister sues TV anchor over on-air gaffe". Reuters. 15 June 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-15." — Lebanon "Lebanon minister sues TV anchor over on-air gaffe". Middle East Online. 15 June 2007. Retrieved on 2007-06-15." — Lebanon "George Galloway, (29 July 2006). "Hizbollah is right to fight Zionist terror". Socialist Worker." — Lebanon "Lebanon is our country, and in it we are staying [as a minority of Christians]." — Lebanon