Lebanon Map | HD Political Map of Lebanon

Lebanon is a small nation in the region of the east Mediterranean. It has its capital and largest city, Beirut. The city sits on the west coast of this tiny country and constitutes the economic, political, as well as cultural nerve center of the country. In terms of the area, this nation spreads over approximately 10,452 square kilometers of land, rendering it one of the smallest in the region. The population is estimated to be around 6.8 million people, with a diverse mix of ethnic and religious groups.

History:

The earliest traces of human habitation in the area date back to the Paleolithic period, a time about 200,000 years ago. Around the third millennium BCE, first known urban civilizations began to materialize, led by the earliest known inhabitants who were the Canaanites. The Canaanites established coastal and interior city-states, making a foundation upon which later cultures were built. Among the earliest cities were Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre, which emerged as important cultural and trading centers. Seafaring people known as the Phoenicians were here, who were great traders, sailors, and shipbuilders.

The Phoenicians, who flourished from around 1200 BCE to 539 BCE, are perhaps the most famous ancient inhabitants of the region. They established a network of colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including in North Africa, Sicily, and Spain. The Phoenicians are credited with creating one of the earliest alphabets, which would go on to influence other writing systems, including Greek and Latin. The cities of Tyre and Sidon, in particular, became powerful maritime centers, with Tyre being renowned for its purple dye, a luxury product highly valued by ancient cultures.

The region was incorporated under Pompey, into the Roman Empire in 64 BCE. Infrastructural development, such as roads, aqueducts, and public buildings, characterized Roman occupation. Sea-coastal cities thrived, and the region became part of the Roman province of Syria. From that moment, with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, this place entered into the Byzantine Empire and there till the initial waves of conquest from Arabs in the 7th century. As per the accounts from the period, the expansion of Christianity dominated in this land with many initial early churches and monasteries throughout.

In the 7th century, the Arab Caliphates, beginning with the Rashidun Caliphate, brought Islam to the region. The area became part of the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates, and the Islamic faith rapidly spread. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the Crusaders arrived in the region, establishing several Crusader states along the eastern Mediterranean, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In 1516, the Ottoman Empire established and its rule lasted for over 400 years. The Ottomans introduced a system of governance that divided the region into administrative districts known as “mutasarrifates.” The most notable of these was Mount Lebanon, which became a semi-autonomous region within the empire.

The region came under French control as part of the League of Nations mandate system following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. France's mandate lasted from 1920 to 1943. The country finally achieved full sovereignty in 1943 after a long struggle for independence. This period also saw the establishment of a unique power-sharing political system based on religious sects, which became a defining feature of the state's political landscape.

The years that followed independence were characterized by a vulnerable peace, but religious and political factionalisms continued to rage high. In 1975, the pressures and tensions gave rise to a cruel civil war that went on for 15 years, leaving much destruction and loss of life. The end of the civil war in the year 1990 did not bring any immediate solution to the challenges afflicting the country. The political system remained sectarian, and the economy was still suffering from the aftermath of years of conflict.

Culture:

The region's culture features Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and Western characteristics. Religion stands as a powerful part of a daily routine through different Christian denominations and Muslim sects.

Different varieties of cuisines are in Lebanese food characterized by savory tastes. Some of the local favorites include national favorites such as kibbeh and fattoush, which also feature different regional specialties; these include hummus, tabbouleh, and kebabs.

Lebanese music combines traditional Arabic and Western elements and is often performed with dance, especially the popular dabke, which is a group dance performed at weddings and other events. The music here includes both traditional instruments like the oud and modern genres like pop, rock, and hip-hop. Art, literature, and theater have significant places in culture and have a history of producing renowned poets, authors, and intellectuals.

Some of the widely recognized religious holidays are Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Christmas, Easter, and Mawlid al-Nabi. Apart from such religious festivities, the country has a number of cultural festivals. For example, the Beirut International Film Festival showcases global cinema, while the Baalbeck International Festival is made famous by the ancient Roman ruins and contains such performances of music and theatre as world class. The Byblos International Festival celebrates music, dance, and theater in the historic city of Byblos, while Fête de la Musique brings free musical performances across the country.

Language:

Lebanon is a multilingual country, with two official languages: Arabic and French. The most common language in Lebanon is Arabic, which has a variety of dialects that represent the nation's rich cultural and religious background. French is also frequently used in government, business, and education. Many Lebanese also speak English, especially those who live in cities and younger generations.

Geography:

It is strategically located in the eastern Mediterranean region, with Syria to its north and northeast, and Israel to the south. This has made it even more imposing at the west due to Mount Lebanon running parallelly with the shoreline. Mount Qurnat as Sawda in this range remains the country's highest mountain reaching 3,088 meters and 10,131 feet from the level. The range barred wet air from coming from the Mediterranean, causing torrential rain in the western slops and resulting in an arid climate at the eastern one.

The coastal plain, very narrow but very fertile, stands between the sea and the mountain ranges. Here lies the basic agricultural zone for the country. It holds the country's largest cities: most of which lie on or within short distance from this capital city, Beirut. Flat land by the coastal shore was rich with soil that supported thousands of years of economic interest and development as a major area of trading and settlement. All across this long coastal region are harbors-many busier than the commercial and historic center at the capital port in Beirut. East of the Mount Lebanon range is the Beqaa Valley large fertile depression that extends from north to south. On the eastern side, there is the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and, on the western side, it has the Mount Lebanon range. Beqaa Valley is considered an important region in agriculture for producing wheat, fruits, vegetables, and vines. This region is also a principal passage between Syria and the coast of the Mediterranean, making it an important trade and immigration route throughout history.

The Anti-Lebanon Mountains are slightly smaller than the Mount Lebanon, but they are very crucial in forming the land and environmental conditions of the country. These mountains represent the boundary between Syria to the east and run parallel to Mount Lebanon to the west. The region is dry and rocky slopes, and its highest peak, Mount Hermon, reaches 2,814 meters. These mountains also play a key role in defining the water resources of the country, with snowmelt from the higher elevations feeding into rivers and lakes below.

Rivers in the country, such as the Litani and Orontes, contribute to the agricultural fertility of the land, though water scarcity remains a concern due to the country's small size and its dependency on rainfall patterns. The Litani River is Lebanon's longest river, flowing from the mountains into the Mediterranean, providing water for irrigation and hydropower generation.

Apart from the landscape, the country's strategic location at the intersection of the world of the Mediterranean has made the nation richly diverse in both culture and the ecological aspect. Its proximity to Europe, Asia, and Africa has made it a melting pot in history and a land whose influence comes from far-reaching civilizations such as Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans. This is mirrored in the mixed geography of the country, which has the environment holding a range of diversified ecosystems. From scrubland along the Mediterranean coast to Alpine meadows and forests in the mountains, diversity in flora and fauna is also of equal great extent.

The Mediterranean type climate dominates the region with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. In the coastal regions, rainfall is more, allowing lush vegetation; in the interior and mountainous regions, it is much harder, even experiencing snowfall in higher elevations during winter months. Diverse climate zones enhance the richness of the landscape and habitats for many different wildlife species.

FAQs

Q1: What is the climate like in Lebanon?

Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Q2: What is the capital of Lebanon?

Beirut is the capital of Lebanon.

Q3: What is the currency of Lebanon?

The pound is the currency of Lebanon (LBP).

Q4: Which is the largest city of Lebanon?

Beirut is the largest city of Lebanon.