Colonial Experience of Syria

The colonial period of Syria under the rule of the Ottoman empire was an extremely dark time for the people of Syria. Their rule affected two major aspects of their everyday lives: The economy, and persecution of Christians.

                The economy of Syria under Ottoman rule was extremely detrimental and wounding towards the inhabitants of Syria at the time. Syria was destroyed prior to Ottoman rule by the Mongolians¹⁰ who almost completely destroyed the villages within Syria. Syria was forced to place money towards rebuilding efforts even though Syria as a whole was poor after the many times Syria had been conquered, defeated, and destroyed¹¹. The population of Syria decreased by 30% and villages completely disappeared into the desert from the lack of money and food they needed to survive¹². By the 18^th century, only 1/8^th of the villages registered within Syria remained¹³.

                The Syrian Christians were also persecuted under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire left laws which dehumanized the Christians such as a law which stated that it was illegal to deny food to animals but it was legal for food to be denied to Christians¹⁴. Christians were also forced to pay a major tax to the Ottoman Empire as well. There were punishments for publicly practicing non-Muslim beliefs within the Ottoman Empire, which caused Syrian Christians, who were poor as it is, to pay even more of their money towards the Ottoman Empire due to their religious beliefs¹⁵.

                Therefore, Syria throughout the Ottoman Rule was a dark period of time due to the economy that they were living in as well as the religious persecution which affected many people throughout Syria.