Ottoman Syria refers to divisions of the Ottoman Empire within the Levant, usually defined as the region east of the Mediterranean Sea, west of the Euphrates River, north of the Arabian Desert and south of the Taurus Mountains.
Ottoman Syria became organized by the Ottomans upon conquest from the Mamluks in the early 16th century into Eyalets (provinces) of Damascus and Aleppo. Elayet of Tripoli was formed in 1579 and later Eyalet of Adana was split from Aleppo. In 1660, Eyalet of Safed was established and shortly renamed into Eyalet of Sidon. The Eyalets were later transformed into the Vilayet of Syria, the Vilayet of Aleppo and the Vilayet of Beirut, following the 1864 Tanzimat reforms.
Read more about Ottoman Syria: History, Administrative Divisions, Contemporary Maps, Showing Eyalets (pre Tanzimat Reforms), Contemporary Maps, Showing Vilayets (post Tanzimat Reforms)
Famous quotes containing the word syria:
“...that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.”
—Bible: Hebrew, 2 Kings 5:8.
Elijah to the king of Israel who has received a letter from the king of Syria looking for someone to cure his commander of leprosy.