HISTÓRIA DO LÍBANO | O Lar de Algumas das Cidades Mais Antigas do Mundo | Parte 1

Summary

This video explores the rich history of Lebanon, a country in the Levant region with ancient roots. From the early settlement in Byblos around 5000 BCE to the rise of the Phoenicians as masters of maritime trade and their eventual conquest by major empires like the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. The video also covers Lebanon's transformation under Greek, Roman, and later Byzantine rule, its role in early Christianity, and the rise of the Maronite community. The history concludes with Lebanon’s Muslim conquest and its journey towards modernity, promising further exploration in the next video.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lebanon is located in the Middle East, bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
• 😀 With an area of about 10,452 km², Lebanon is the 161st largest country in the world and has a population of approximately 5.8 million people.
• 😀 Lebanon's history dates back to around 8000 BC, with ancient settlements in cities like Byblos, which has been continuously inhabited since around 5000 BC.
• 😀 Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of human habitation dating back 45,000 years.
• 😀 Around 3000 BC, the Semitic peoples settled in the region, founding cities like Beirut, Byblos, and Tyre, which later became major trade hubs.
• 😀 The Canaanites, who appeared around 2100 BC, established cities in the Levant, and later, the Phoenicians became renowned for their maritime culture and trade.
• 😀 The Phoenicians were skilled sailors and merchants, developing an expansive maritime trade network that lasted over a millennium and spreading the Phoenician alphabet to Greece.
• 😀 Tyre, one of the most powerful Phoenician cities, was significantly impacted by Assyrian invasions in the 9th century BC, eventually falling to the Macedonian Empire under Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
• 😀 After Alexander's death, the Phoenician cities came under the control of the Seleucid Empire, which contested the region with the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
• 😀 The region was later incorporated into the Roman Empire, where cities like Beirut thrived and Christianity began to spread in the 1st century AD, making Lebanon an important center for the Christian faith.

Q & A

What is the geographical location of Lebanon?

Lebanon is located in the Middle East, on the western edge of Asia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south.

How large is Lebanon and what is its population?

Lebanon covers an area of approximately 10,452 km² and has an estimated population of about 5.8 million people.

When did human settlement in Lebanon begin, and where is the earliest evidence found?

Human settlement in Lebanon dates back to around 8000 BCE, with the earliest evidence of habitation found in the city of Byblos, which has been continuously inhabited since around 5000 BCE.

What is the significance of Byblos in ancient history?

Byblos is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and was a key settlement in the development of early human civilization in Lebanon, with evidence of human presence dating back to around 45,000 years ago.

What was the role of the Phoenicians in ancient history?

The Phoenicians were known for their maritime skills and established extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean. They are also credited with developing the Phoenician alphabet, which influenced Greek writing and other ancient cultures.

What major empires controlled the region of Lebanon throughout history?

Lebanon was controlled by several empires, including the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, Sassanid Persian, and Muslim Caliphates.

What happened to the Phoenician cities under the rule of the Assyrians?

The Phoenician cities, including Tyre and Sidon, were forced to pay heavy tributes to the Assyrians after being conquered, but they managed to maintain a certain degree of autonomy despite being under Assyrian dominance.

What influence did Alexander the Great have on Lebanon?

Under Alexander the Great's military campaigns, Tyre and other Phoenician cities were conquered. The region was later integrated into the Macedonian Empire, though the Phoenician cities largely maintained their local identities despite the spread of Greek culture.

How did Christianity spread in Lebanon?

Christianity spread into Lebanon from the neighboring region of Galilee during the 1st century. By the 5th century, a monastic tradition was established by Maron, leading to the formation of the Maronite Christian community.

What was the relationship between Lebanon and the Roman Empire?

Lebanon became part of the Roman Empire, with cities like Beirut thriving and becoming centers of economic and cultural activity. The region was also a key site for early Christianity and was later made a Roman colony under the name 'Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Beritos'.

What happened to Lebanon after the fall of the Roman Empire?

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Lebanon was part of the Byzantine Empire. Following the Byzantine-Persian Wars, the region was taken over by the Sassanid Persians but was later returned to the Byzantines. In the 7th century, the region came under Muslim control and was integrated into the Rashidun Caliphate.