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Have you ever come across a word or term in history that you just aren't familiar with? Ok, so maybe this happens all the time. In researching the history of Venice, particularly after the Renaissance, I've been seeing the word “Levant”. Well, here it is:
The Levant (IPA: /lə'v?nt/) is a geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East, roughly bounded on the north by the Taurus Mountains, on the west by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Upper Mesopotamia, and on the south by the Arabian Desert. It is an imprecise term, however, because it refers to an area of cultural habitation rather than to a specific area of land. It is a much needed term, however, given that throughout much of history the region referred to, has had many different national or political names.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LevantSo this describes modern-day Israel and surrounding lands. I suppose this may be important to know for future reference. Otherwise you can impress your friends at your next cocktail party.
Trading partners. Because of its position on the Adriatic, Venice was a key economic and military power on the sea, probably from the Middle Ages through the 18th Century. It only fell to Napoleon's forces in 1797. I recall reading some document from the early years of the United States in which they referred to the Republic of Venice, perhaps having something to do with a treaty of some sort.
The Levant includes the Holy Land, Syria, and the Tigris-Euphrates river valley (i.e. The Fertile Crescent).
The Levant includes the Holy Land, Syria, and the Tigris-Euphrates river valley (i.e. The Fertile Crescent).
Ah, the fertile cresent, referred to later in song as the "fertile delta", referring to the junction of rivers, ... as sung by many local song writers. ...What, do you suppose, were these poets speaking of?
The Levant includes the Holy Land, Syria, and the Tigris-Euphrates river valley (i.e. The Fertile Crescent).
Does it go that far east, though? It does not look like it includes Iraq.
The Levant includes the Holy Land, Syria, and the Tigris-Euphrates river valley (i.e. The Fertile Crescent).
Does it go that far east, though? It does not look like it includes Iraq.
It includes Northern Iraq (Babylon, Ur, Sumer, Shinar etc....). You have to remember that once upon a time long ago, the Middle East wasn't so barren and desertified.....however, desertification has shrunk the fertile crescent down quite considerably.
It seems there's a few definitions of Levant, but the main consensus appears to be that it's Syria and Lebanon.
The term ' Syria' is sometimes used to refer to the whole northern area. (iii) This northern area was subdivided by the Mandatory Power into several political units, to which was given the collective name of 'Les ?tats du Levant' or 'The Levant States'. From 1925 to 1936 they were four in number: the States of Syria and Greater Lebanon, or, as they are now called, the Syrian and Lebanese Republics, and the Governments of Latakia 1
1 A. H. Hourani, Syria and Lebanon: A Political Essay [book on-line] (London: Oxford University Press, 1946, accessed 25 March 2008), 4; available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=30358206; Internet.(I love Questia's "instant" citation capabilities. It makes life so easy. ;D)
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