Syria has been engaged in a devastating civil war for over five years, rendering much of the country unrecognizable. Here’s what it looked like before – and why that changed.
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1 of 52The stream of Barada, Damascus, circa 1890-1900.Library of Congress 2 of 52Syrians in a coffee garden, circa 1895.Library of Congress 3 of 52Interior of the Greek church of Damascus, circa 1903.Library of Congress 4 of 52Music school, circa 1905.Library of Congress 5 of 52A street of new Aleppo, circa 1898-1920.Library of Congress 6 of 52Syrian woman nursing baby, circa 1898-1946.Library of Congress 7 of 52A street named “Straight” in Damascus, circa 1900.Library of Congress 8 of 52Syrian children, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 9 of 52Syrian shopkeeper, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 10 of 52Syrian women, circa 1916.Library of Congress 11 of 52Pastry workers, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 12 of 52A wealthy Damascene’s reception room, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 13 of 52Courtyard of a Christian house, Damascus, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 14 of 52Romani men and women staging a Bedouin wedding, circa 1938.Library of Congress 15 of 52Girl holding baby near ruins, circa 1932-1951.Library of Congress 16 of 52Photo released in the 1930s showing the Sanjak Dhar district of Damascus.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 17 of 52A sculpture in Palmyra, an ancient city in central Syria, circa 1930s. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 18 of 52Archaeologists working on a mosaic in Apamea. -/AFP/Getty Images 19 of 52Photo released on August 20, 1956 showing a meeting to support Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in the stadium of Damascus. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 20 of 52Demonstrators march to commemorate the Nakba Day, Day of the Catastrophe, on May 15, 1960 in Damascus. This day marks the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians following the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948. More than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in the war that accompanied Israel’s declaration of independence took refuge in Arab countries, including Syria. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 21 of 52Photo released on October 5, 1961 of Syrian women demonstrating their support of Egyptian President Nasser as Syria withdraws from the UAR (United Arab Republic), the political union between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 22 of 52Syrian women leave the polling station on December 1, 1961 during democratic parliamentary elections in Syria. DERZI/AFP/Getty Images 23 of 52Beirut-Damascus highway, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 24 of 52The River Abana in Damascus, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 25 of 52Damascus, House of Ananias, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 26 of 52Man with baskets in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 27 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 28 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 29 of 52Female shoppers in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 30 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 31 of 52Damascus residents find shade, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 32 of 52Damascus storefronts, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 33 of 52Group in small town along road from Beirut to Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 34 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 35 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 36 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 37 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 38 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 39 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 40 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 41 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 42 of 52Women in Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 43 of 52French President Francois Mitterrand, his wife Danielle (right) and the Syrian chief archaeologist of the ancient city of Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad (second from right) visit the ancient oasis city of Palmyra on November 27, 1984. PHILIPPE BOUCHON/AFP/Getty Images 44 of 52Syrian players go for the ball during the 1985 World Cup qualifying match against Iraq played in Damascus. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. Allsport UK/Allsport 45 of 52The Jupiter Temple in Damascus, in front of Umayyad Mosque.Wikimedia Commons 46 of 52French tourist takes photos inside the eighth century Umayyad Mosque on April 17, 2005 in Damascus. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images 47 of 52Syrian men weave traditional rugs in the bazaar of the historic city of Aleppo, March 2006. Aleppo was chosen as the Arab world’s capital of Islamic culture for 2006. The city was also a major trading center on the Silk Road and its Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage made it a culturally significant and architecturally unique site. RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 48 of 52A man smokes his water pipe in front of the Aleppo citadel, an Islamic landmark and the most prominent historic architectural site in Aleppo, March 2006.RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 49 of 52A Syrian whirling dervish dancer from the Aleppo Heritage Ensemble performs during the festival of “Nights of Spiritual Music” at Qasr al-Adhm in Damascus, 2008. LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 50 of 52Syrian women walk past a newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Damascus, January 2006. KFC was the first US fast food outlet to open in the Syrian capital.LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 51 of 52Al Hamidiyah Souq In Damascus, 2010.Wikimedia Commons 52 of 52Like this gallery?Share it:
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The Way Syria Was View Gallery
In March 2016, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory for Syria. As the Syrian civil war drags on and the incidence of kidnappings, bombings, murder, and terrorism remains high, the Department of State advised “U.S. citizens against all travel to Syria” and that “U.S. citizens remaining in Syria depart immediately.”
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1 of 52The stream of Barada, Damascus, circa 1890-1900.Library of Congress 2 of 52Syrians in a coffee garden, circa 1895.Library of Congress 3 of 52Interior of the Greek church of Damascus, circa 1903.Library of Congress 4 of 52Music school, circa 1905.Library of Congress 5 of 52A street of new Aleppo, circa 1898-1920.Library of Congress 6 of 52Syrian woman nursing baby, circa 1898-1946.Library of Congress 7 of 52A street named “Straight” in Damascus, circa 1900.Library of Congress 8 of 52Syrian children, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 9 of 52Syrian shopkeeper, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 10 of 52Syrian women, circa 1916.Library of Congress 11 of 52Pastry workers, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 12 of 52A wealthy Damascene’s reception room, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 13 of 52Courtyard of a Christian house, Damascus, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 14 of 52Romani men and women staging a Bedouin wedding, circa 1938.Library of Congress 15 of 52Girl holding baby near ruins, circa 1932-1951.Library of Congress 16 of 52Photo released in the 1930s showing the Sanjak Dhar district of Damascus.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 17 of 52A sculpture in Palmyra, an ancient city in central Syria, circa 1930s. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 18 of 52Archaeologists working on a mosaic in Apamea. -/AFP/Getty Images 19 of 52Photo released on August 20, 1956 showing a meeting to support Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in the stadium of Damascus. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 20 of 52Demonstrators march to commemorate the Nakba Day, Day of the Catastrophe, on May 15, 1960 in Damascus. This day marks the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians following the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948. More than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in the war that accompanied Israel’s declaration of independence took refuge in Arab countries, including Syria. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 21 of 52Photo released on October 5, 1961 of Syrian women demonstrating their support of Egyptian President Nasser as Syria withdraws from the UAR (United Arab Republic), the political union between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 22 of 52Syrian women leave the polling station on December 1, 1961 during democratic parliamentary elections in Syria. DERZI/AFP/Getty Images 23 of 52Beirut-Damascus highway, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 24 of 52The River Abana in Damascus, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 25 of 52Damascus, House of Ananias, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 26 of 52Man with baskets in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 27 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 28 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 29 of 52Female shoppers in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 30 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 31 of 52Damascus residents find shade, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 32 of 52Damascus storefronts, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 33 of 52Group in small town along road from Beirut to Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 34 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 35 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 36 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 37 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 38 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 39 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 40 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 41 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 42 of 52Women in Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 43 of 52French President Francois Mitterrand, his wife Danielle (right) and the Syrian chief archaeologist of the ancient city of Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad (second from right) visit the ancient oasis city of Palmyra on November 27, 1984. PHILIPPE BOUCHON/AFP/Getty Images 44 of 52Syrian players go for the ball during the 1985 World Cup qualifying match against Iraq played in Damascus. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. Allsport UK/Allsport 45 of 52The Jupiter Temple in Damascus, in front of Umayyad Mosque.Wikimedia Commons 46 of 52French tourist takes photos inside the eighth century Umayyad Mosque on April 17, 2005 in Damascus. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images 47 of 52Syrian men weave traditional rugs in the bazaar of the historic city of Aleppo, March 2006. Aleppo was chosen as the Arab world’s capital of Islamic culture for 2006. The city was also a major trading center on the Silk Road and its Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage made it a culturally significant and architecturally unique site. RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 48 of 52A man smokes his water pipe in front of the Aleppo citadel, an Islamic landmark and the most prominent historic architectural site in Aleppo, March 2006.RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 49 of 52A Syrian whirling dervish dancer from the Aleppo Heritage Ensemble performs during the festival of “Nights of Spiritual Music” at Qasr al-Adhm in Damascus, 2008. LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 50 of 52Syrian women walk past a newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Damascus, January 2006. KFC was the first US fast food outlet to open in the Syrian capital.LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 51 of 52Al Hamidiyah Souq In Damascus, 2010.Wikimedia Commons 52 of 52Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 52The stream of Barada, Damascus, circa 1890-1900.Library of Congress 2 of 52Syrians in a coffee garden, circa 1895.Library of Congress 3 of 52Interior of the Greek church of Damascus, circa 1903.Library of Congress 4 of 52Music school, circa 1905.Library of Congress 5 of 52A street of new Aleppo, circa 1898-1920.Library of Congress 6 of 52Syrian woman nursing baby, circa 1898-1946.Library of Congress 7 of 52A street named “Straight” in Damascus, circa 1900.Library of Congress 8 of 52Syrian children, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 9 of 52Syrian shopkeeper, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 10 of 52Syrian women, circa 1916.Library of Congress 11 of 52Pastry workers, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 12 of 52A wealthy Damascene’s reception room, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 13 of 52Courtyard of a Christian house, Damascus, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 14 of 52Romani men and women staging a Bedouin wedding, circa 1938.Library of Congress 15 of 52Girl holding baby near ruins, circa 1932-1951.Library of Congress 16 of 52Photo released in the 1930s showing the Sanjak Dhar district of Damascus.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 17 of 52A sculpture in Palmyra, an ancient city in central Syria, circa 1930s. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 18 of 52Archaeologists working on a mosaic in Apamea. -/AFP/Getty Images 19 of 52Photo released on August 20, 1956 showing a meeting to support Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in the stadium of Damascus. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 20 of 52Demonstrators march to commemorate the Nakba Day, Day of the Catastrophe, on May 15, 1960 in Damascus. This day marks the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians following the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948. More than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in the war that accompanied Israel’s declaration of independence took refuge in Arab countries, including Syria. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 21 of 52Photo released on October 5, 1961 of Syrian women demonstrating their support of Egyptian President Nasser as Syria withdraws from the UAR (United Arab Republic), the political union between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 22 of 52Syrian women leave the polling station on December 1, 1961 during democratic parliamentary elections in Syria. DERZI/AFP/Getty Images 23 of 52Beirut-Damascus highway, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 24 of 52The River Abana in Damascus, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 25 of 52Damascus, House of Ananias, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 26 of 52Man with baskets in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 27 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 28 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 29 of 52Female shoppers in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 30 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 31 of 52Damascus residents find shade, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 32 of 52Damascus storefronts, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 33 of 52Group in small town along road from Beirut to Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 34 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 35 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 36 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 37 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 38 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 39 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 40 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 41 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 42 of 52Women in Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 43 of 52French President Francois Mitterrand, his wife Danielle (right) and the Syrian chief archaeologist of the ancient city of Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad (second from right) visit the ancient oasis city of Palmyra on November 27, 1984. PHILIPPE BOUCHON/AFP/Getty Images 44 of 52Syrian players go for the ball during the 1985 World Cup qualifying match against Iraq played in Damascus. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. Allsport UK/Allsport 45 of 52The Jupiter Temple in Damascus, in front of Umayyad Mosque.Wikimedia Commons 46 of 52French tourist takes photos inside the eighth century Umayyad Mosque on April 17, 2005 in Damascus. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images 47 of 52Syrian men weave traditional rugs in the bazaar of the historic city of Aleppo, March 2006. Aleppo was chosen as the Arab world’s capital of Islamic culture for 2006. The city was also a major trading center on the Silk Road and its Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage made it a culturally significant and architecturally unique site. RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 48 of 52A man smokes his water pipe in front of the Aleppo citadel, an Islamic landmark and the most prominent historic architectural site in Aleppo, March 2006.RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 49 of 52A Syrian whirling dervish dancer from the Aleppo Heritage Ensemble performs during the festival of “Nights of Spiritual Music” at Qasr al-Adhm in Damascus, 2008. LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 50 of 52Syrian women walk past a newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Damascus, January 2006. KFC was the first US fast food outlet to open in the Syrian capital.LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 51 of 52Al Hamidiyah Souq In Damascus, 2010.Wikimedia Commons 52 of 52Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 52The stream of Barada, Damascus, circa 1890-1900.Library of Congress 2 of 52Syrians in a coffee garden, circa 1895.Library of Congress 3 of 52Interior of the Greek church of Damascus, circa 1903.Library of Congress 4 of 52Music school, circa 1905.Library of Congress 5 of 52A street of new Aleppo, circa 1898-1920.Library of Congress 6 of 52Syrian woman nursing baby, circa 1898-1946.Library of Congress 7 of 52A street named “Straight” in Damascus, circa 1900.Library of Congress 8 of 52Syrian children, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 9 of 52Syrian shopkeeper, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 10 of 52Syrian women, circa 1916.Library of Congress 11 of 52Pastry workers, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress 12 of 52A wealthy Damascene’s reception room, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 13 of 52Courtyard of a Christian house, Damascus, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress 14 of 52Romani men and women staging a Bedouin wedding, circa 1938.Library of Congress 15 of 52Girl holding baby near ruins, circa 1932-1951.Library of Congress 16 of 52Photo released in the 1930s showing the Sanjak Dhar district of Damascus.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 17 of 52A sculpture in Palmyra, an ancient city in central Syria, circa 1930s. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 18 of 52Archaeologists working on a mosaic in Apamea. -/AFP/Getty Images 19 of 52Photo released on August 20, 1956 showing a meeting to support Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in the stadium of Damascus. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 20 of 52Demonstrators march to commemorate the Nakba Day, Day of the Catastrophe, on May 15, 1960 in Damascus. This day marks the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians following the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948. More than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in the war that accompanied Israel’s declaration of independence took refuge in Arab countries, including Syria. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 21 of 52Photo released on October 5, 1961 of Syrian women demonstrating their support of Egyptian President Nasser as Syria withdraws from the UAR (United Arab Republic), the political union between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images 22 of 52Syrian women leave the polling station on December 1, 1961 during democratic parliamentary elections in Syria. DERZI/AFP/Getty Images 23 of 52Beirut-Damascus highway, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 24 of 52The River Abana in Damascus, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 25 of 52Damascus, House of Ananias, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress 26 of 52Man with baskets in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 27 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 28 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 29 of 52Female shoppers in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 30 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 31 of 52Damascus residents find shade, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 32 of 52Damascus storefronts, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 33 of 52Group in small town along road from Beirut to Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 34 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 35 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 36 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 37 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 38 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 39 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 40 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 41 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 42 of 52Women in Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives 43 of 52French President Francois Mitterrand, his wife Danielle (right) and the Syrian chief archaeologist of the ancient city of Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad (second from right) visit the ancient oasis city of Palmyra on November 27, 1984. PHILIPPE BOUCHON/AFP/Getty Images 44 of 52Syrian players go for the ball during the 1985 World Cup qualifying match against Iraq played in Damascus. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. Allsport UK/Allsport 45 of 52The Jupiter Temple in Damascus, in front of Umayyad Mosque.Wikimedia Commons 46 of 52French tourist takes photos inside the eighth century Umayyad Mosque on April 17, 2005 in Damascus. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images 47 of 52Syrian men weave traditional rugs in the bazaar of the historic city of Aleppo, March 2006. Aleppo was chosen as the Arab world’s capital of Islamic culture for 2006. The city was also a major trading center on the Silk Road and its Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage made it a culturally significant and architecturally unique site. RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 48 of 52A man smokes his water pipe in front of the Aleppo citadel, an Islamic landmark and the most prominent historic architectural site in Aleppo, March 2006.RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images 49 of 52A Syrian whirling dervish dancer from the Aleppo Heritage Ensemble performs during the festival of “Nights of Spiritual Music” at Qasr al-Adhm in Damascus, 2008. LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 50 of 52Syrian women walk past a newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Damascus, January 2006. KFC was the first US fast food outlet to open in the Syrian capital.LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images 51 of 52Al Hamidiyah Souq In Damascus, 2010.Wikimedia Commons 52 of 52Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 52The stream of Barada, Damascus, circa 1890-1900.Library of Congress
2 of 52Syrians in a coffee garden, circa 1895.Library of Congress
3 of 52Interior of the Greek church of Damascus, circa 1903.Library of Congress
4 of 52Music school, circa 1905.Library of Congress
5 of 52A street of new Aleppo, circa 1898-1920.Library of Congress
6 of 52Syrian woman nursing baby, circa 1898-1946.Library of Congress
7 of 52A street named “Straight” in Damascus, circa 1900.Library of Congress
8 of 52Syrian children, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress
9 of 52Syrian shopkeeper, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress
10 of 52Syrian women, circa 1916.Library of Congress
11 of 52Pastry workers, circa 1910-1915.Library of Congress
12 of 52A wealthy Damascene’s reception room, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress
13 of 52Courtyard of a Christian house, Damascus, circa 1900-1920.Library of Congress
14 of 52Romani men and women staging a Bedouin wedding, circa 1938.Library of Congress
15 of 52Girl holding baby near ruins, circa 1932-1951.Library of Congress
16 of 52Photo released in the 1930s showing the Sanjak Dhar district of Damascus.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
17 of 52A sculpture in Palmyra, an ancient city in central Syria, circa 1930s. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
18 of 52Archaeologists working on a mosaic in Apamea. -/AFP/Getty Images
19 of 52Photo released on August 20, 1956 showing a meeting to support Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in the stadium of Damascus. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
20 of 52Demonstrators march to commemorate the Nakba Day, Day of the Catastrophe, on May 15, 1960 in Damascus. This day marks the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians following the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948. More than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in the war that accompanied Israel’s declaration of independence took refuge in Arab countries, including Syria. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
21 of 52Photo released on October 5, 1961 of Syrian women demonstrating their support of Egyptian President Nasser as Syria withdraws from the UAR (United Arab Republic), the political union between Egypt and Syria from 1958 to 1961.STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
22 of 52Syrian women leave the polling station on December 1, 1961 during democratic parliamentary elections in Syria. DERZI/AFP/Getty Images
23 of 52Beirut-Damascus highway, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
24 of 52The River Abana in Damascus, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress
25 of 52Damascus, House of Ananias, circa 1950-1977.Library of Congress
26 of 52Man with baskets in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
27 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
28 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
29 of 52Female shoppers in Damascus on May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
30 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
31 of 52Damascus residents find shade, May 6, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
32 of 52Damascus storefronts, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
33 of 52Group in small town along road from Beirut to Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
34 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
35 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
36 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
37 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
38 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
39 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
40 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
41 of 52Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
42 of 52Women in Damascus, 1965.Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection/Indiana University Archives
43 of 52French President Francois Mitterrand, his wife Danielle (right) and the Syrian chief archaeologist of the ancient city of Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad (second from right) visit the ancient oasis city of Palmyra on November 27, 1984. PHILIPPE BOUCHON/AFP/Getty Images
44 of 52Syrian players go for the ball during the 1985 World Cup qualifying match against Iraq played in Damascus. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. Allsport UK/Allsport
45 of 52The Jupiter Temple in Damascus, in front of Umayyad Mosque.Wikimedia Commons
46 of 52French tourist takes photos inside the eighth century Umayyad Mosque on April 17, 2005 in Damascus. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images
47 of 52Syrian men weave traditional rugs in the bazaar of the historic city of Aleppo, March 2006. Aleppo was chosen as the Arab world’s capital of Islamic culture for 2006. The city was also a major trading center on the Silk Road and its Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage made it a culturally significant and architecturally unique site. RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images
48 of 52A man smokes his water pipe in front of the Aleppo citadel, an Islamic landmark and the most prominent historic architectural site in Aleppo, March 2006.RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images
49 of 52A Syrian whirling dervish dancer from the Aleppo Heritage Ensemble performs during the festival of “Nights of Spiritual Music” at Qasr al-Adhm in Damascus, 2008. LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images
50 of 52Syrian women walk past a newly opened Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in Damascus, January 2006. KFC was the first US fast food outlet to open in the Syrian capital.LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images
51 of 52Al Hamidiyah Souq In Damascus, 2010.Wikimedia Commons
52 of 52Like this gallery?Share it:
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The Way Syria Was View Gallery
The Way Syria Was View Gallery
The Way Syria Was View Gallery
The Way Syria Was View Gallery
The Way Syria Was
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Dire enough in its own right, the Department of State’s warning becomes that much more dramatic when held against the country’s past. As recently as 2010, tourism comprised 14 percent of the Syrian economy, bringing in around $8.4 billion in that year alone.
It’s easy to see why: Some of the oldest, most historically significant cities in western Asia can be found in Syria.
For centuries, Aleppo’s proximity to the legendary Silk Roads rendered it one of the region’s most robust sites of economic and cultural exchange. That truth manifests itself in the city’s very design and architecture: Christian cathedrals, expansive mosques and one of the world’s largest covered bazaars blend together and reflect the country’s rich, diverse heritage.
Damascus, the Syrian capital, likewise embodies millennia of economic and cultural wealth. As one of the world’s oldest continually-inhabited cities (UNESCO says it has been inhabited since as early as 8,000 BC), its architecture reflects the array of cultures — Romans, Umayyads, Byzantines, among others — who built it.
For a time, foreign policy expert William R. Polk writes, this pluralism worked:
But after Syrians shorn themselves of French rule (taking the place of the Ottomans after World War I) in 1946, Polk writes that in a quest for national identity, this diversity would help sow the seeds for future conflict.
…Whether in enclaves or in neighborhoods, each non-Muslim community dressed according to its custom, spoke its own languages, and lived according to its unique cultural pattern; it appointed or elected its own officials, who divided the taxes it owed to the empire, ran its schools, and provided such health facilities and social welfare as it thought proper or could afford. Since this system was spelled out in the Quran and the Traditions (Hadiths) of the Prophet, respecting it was legally obligatory for Muslims. Consequently, when the Syrian state took shape, it inherited a rich, diverse, and tolerant social tradition.
LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty ImagesUndated picture shows Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and his wife Anisseh posing for a family picture with his children (left to right) Maher, Bashar, Bassel (who died in a car accident in 1994), Majd, and Bushra.
Indeed, the first Assad regime began in 1970, with Hafez al-Assad identifying as an Alawi Muslim — which Orthodox Muslims viewed to be heretical. Assad had joined the secular, pan-Arabist Baathist party early in his military career, which Polk writes “seemed to offer the means to overcome his origins in a minority community and to point toward a solution to the disunity of Syrian politics.”
It didn’t. Assad’s authoritarian leanings — particularly his order that Alawis be considered Shia Muslims, not heretics — inspired the sustained ire of the Muslim Brotherhood, who would carry out organized terrorist attacks on the government and Assad’s inner circle, eventually culminating in a devastating revolt in Hama, not unlike what has transpired in the 21st century.
While Bashar al-Assad, Hafez’s son, would attempt to placate many of these opponents upon assuming office in 2000, Polk writes that he too exhibited authoritarian tendencies, once quoted as saying, “Run your own lives privately and enrich yourselves as you wish, but do not challenge my government.”
When coupled with a four-year drought that United Nations experts say reduced millions to extreme poverty and pushed populations into Syrian cities, the continuation of Assad-style authoritarianism and sectarian divisions would soon culminate in civil war.
Indeed, that spark struck on March 15, 2011, when “a relatively small group gathered in the southwestern town of Daraa to protest against government failure to help them.”
Assad ordered a crackdown, which quickly catalyzed armed opposition among disparate groups, leading to the civil war that continues to be fought today.
Next, see some of the most incredible photos of the Syrian civil war. Then, have a surprising look at just how different Afghanistan was in the 1960s and what life was like in Iran before Islamic fundamentalism.
