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'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎58v] (121/738)
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'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎58v] (121/738)

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'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919'
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Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/16/15

The record is made up of 1 volume (365 folios). It was created in 1919. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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110
MILITARY HISTORY
the bounds of northern Syria, and its own subjection to a
northern power has been exceptional and transitory. The
prolonged Ottoman dominion of Egypt may be regarded as
a (partial) renovation of the old empire of the Khalifs, and
therefore as a case apart. The only complete conquest of
Syria from the East took place in the seventh century. The
only case of a part of the country maintaining its independence
against powerful invaders occurred during the Crusades. But
the result was then due to the support of Mesopotamia and
Egypt. Cilicia and Euphratesia have always been closely
associated with the political fortunes of northern Syria. The
frontier of Cilicia towards Asia Minor may be regarded as the
best military frontier of northern Syria.
The chief political centres have always been Aleppo,
Damascus, and one or other of the cities on the coast,
sometimes one and sometimes another. Antioch, Hama
and Homs have played important parts in the political and
military history at times. Jerusalem, the chief religious
centre, is not prominent in the political and military history
of the country. Sometimes the greater cities have made
a good resistance to new conquerors, but generally their
opposition has been negligible, apart from the protection of
a foreign power. The fight for the possession of Syria has
sometimes been settled beyond its borders. So far as the
Syrians manifest a choice it is usually for a new master, who
will treat them, as they hope, better than the old.
The usual line of invasion from the north is by way of
Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. After this the invader must either
keep eastwards and deal with Damascus, or pass through
the Biqa 1 into Palestine. The Crusaders, however, advanced
along the coast from Antioch to Jaffa, so keeping in touch
with the sea, and through that with their sources of supply.
Invaders from the north have frequently been met in the
neighbourhood of Homs (Tartar invasions), as well as in the
neighbourhood of Aleppo. When Antioch and Aleppo were
rival capitals numerous battles were fought in the district
west and south-west of Aleppo (Byzantine and crusading

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Content

Admiralty handbook regarding Syria (including Palestine) 'to as far north as the River Orontes and a line Antioch-Aleppo-Meskeneh. For details of the part of Syria beyond this line reference must be made to the Handbook of Asia Minor , Vol. iv, Part 2 (C.B. 847 C).'

'Contents. Chapters:

  • I. Boundaries and Physical Survey, p 9 (folio 7)
  • II. Climate, p 24 (folio 14v)
  • III. Minerals, Flora and Fauna, p 93 (folio 50)
  • IV. Military History, p 109 (folio 58)
  • V. Inhabitants, p 175 (folio 91)
  • VI. Turkish Administration, p 236 (folio 121v)
  • VII. Agriculture, p 252 (folio 129v)
  • VIII. Industry and Trade, p 276 (folio 141v)
  • IX. Currency, Weights and Measures, p 318 (folio 162v)
  • X. Jebel Ansarīyeh, p 325 (folio 166)
  • XI. Country East of Jebel Ansarīyeh, p 344 (folio 175v)
  • XII. Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, and Damascus Plain, p 357 (folio 182)
  • XIII. River Systems of Northern Syria, p 395 (folio 201)
  • XIV. Judea and the Southern Desert, p 427 (folio 217)
  • XV. Samaria (including Carmel), p 472 (folio 239v)
  • XVI. Galilee, p 515 (folio 261)
  • XVII. Haurān and Jaulān, p 556 (folio 281v)
  • XVIII. 'Ajlūn and Northern Belqa, p 580 (folio 293v)
  • XIX. Southern Belqa and Ardh el-Kerak, p 612 (folio 309v)
  • XX. El-Jibāl and Esh-Shera, p 636 (folio 321v)
  • XXI. The Ghōr (Jordan and the Dead Sea); and Wādi 'Arabah, p 645 (folio 326)
  • Appendix: Conventional Spellings, p 668 (folio 337v)
  • Index, p 669 (folio 338)
  • Plates, p 725' [missing]
Extent and format
1 volume (365 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a contents page (folio 6) and an index (folios 338-365).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 367; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence. The volume originally contained fourteen plates showing maps, bound into the back of the volume. These are now missing; details of the plates can be found at folio 5v.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919' [‎58v] (121/738), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/16/15, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100033282269.0x00007a> [accessed 19 December 2024]

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Reference
IOR/L/MIL/17/16/15
Title
'A handbook of Syria (including Palestine). London: Naval Staff Intelligence Department, June 1919'
Pages
front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:366v, back-i
Author
East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms
Open Government Licence