You may have heard people talk about the Levant region in both historical terms and geographical terms. This is an incredibly interesting location with hugely spiritual cities with a rich history, but where exactly is Levant? What counts as this region and what countries are within?
Levant Defined
Ask three different people "where is the Levant?" and you will probably get three different answers, even if these people know plenty about the region. This is because the area is approximate and doesn't have specific boundaries and borders.
The Levant is generally considered to be a region of Western Asia and the Middle East.
The countries that most people are in agreement about being in the Levant (at least partially) are:
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Palestinian Territories
Syria
Many people also consider Iraq to be part of the Levant, but this is a matter of personal opinion. Geographically, countries that are close include Turkey and Cyprus. The south of Turkey where the country borders Syria is particularly close and some people consider this to be part of the Levant. Generally, Iraq is more likely to be included on a list of Levant countries due to its closer cultural connections with the Levant region. Cyprus and Turkey are closer to Europe in terms of their culture.
The Origin of the Levant Term
To understand Levant and Levantine people, it helps to understand the origin of the term in the English language.
The term first seemed to be used widely back in the 1500s, when ships from English merchants were arriving in the region. The Ottoman empire's trading links were a big part of the naming, and a number of "Levant trading companies" were set up in the UK and in France.
At the time, the further eastern regions of Asia were also referred to as the "Upper Levant".
The word itself comes from an Arabic word that meant "east" or "easterly" which stems from the french word "levant" which means rise. The sun rises in the east, of course, so this is the origin of the use of this to mean an easterly location. At least, for the English, the Levant was certainly in the east.
One of the few specific definitions that we have of the Levant region is from archaeology. Specifically, The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of the Levant: c. 8000–332 BCE. his book defines the boundaries of this region, at least in the study of archaeology.
- The northern boundary at the Plain of 'Amuq
- The eastern boundary at the eastern deserts, Mesopotamia and the North Arabian Desert
- The southern boundary at the Wadi al-Arish river in Sinai
- The western boundary at the Mediterranean sea
Even this is open to some interpretation. Luckily, the debate about these regions usually isn't fierce. People are quite accepting of the different definitions of the area.
Levant People – Demographics, Language, and Religion
The largest cultural and linguistic group are Arab people in the Levant region, and most of the area can be considered Arabic, but there are numerous religions in the area and multiple groups making it quite a diverse place.
With cities such as Jerusalem and Damascus in the area, the place has an immense cultural and religious significance to many different ethnic groups.
The biggest religious group in the area are the Muslim Arabs. In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of the Levant meant that a huge number of people in the region still follow the Muslim religion. The Levant region was annexed and brought under the rule of the Rashidun Caliphate. It became the region Bilal-al-Shame, and Muslim troops were present mainly on the southern borders of the levantine. The Battle of Mutah was fought in 629 and this was the start of the Arab and Byzantine wars, but the conquest was not complete until later in the century. During the peirod, Khalid ibn al-Walid was a famous leader of the army.
In this day and age, Muslims belonging to the Shia, Sunni, and Alawi groups are present in the region. If you visit the Levant, expect to abide by their customs and respect religious beliefs such as their festival of Ramadan.
As well as there being a huge number of Muslims in the region, there are groups from other religions including Christians such as Roman Catholics and Protestant, plus a number of Jews and other minority religions.
Jerusalem is one of the biggest cities in the Levant region, and this city has huge significance in many different religious texts. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all have spiritual and religious connections to the region.
The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of earth and of heaven.
Benjamin Disraeli
As well as Levantine Arabs, popular ethnic groups in the Levant include Jews, Maronites, Turks, Turkmens, Greeks, Assyrians, Yazidi, Kurds, and Armenians.
Arabic is the most commonly-spoken language in the region, with the varieties North Levantine Arabic in Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Turkey, and South Levantine Arabic in Palestine and Jordan. There are plenty of other languages that are used in the region, with Hebrew being the official language of Israel, and Armenian, Circassian, French, Turkish, and English all being spoken by some of the population.
Cities of the Levant
There are many different culturally-significant cities in the Levant known among travellers. There are also some of the most stunning historical sites that the world has to offer in the region. For instance, may people know about Jordan, and how beautiful some of the attractions are in the area.
Amman is the capital city of Jordan, a place for people to explore the attractions and history of this country. It is located on a relatively small space, and the city has an interesting blend of archaic and brand new. It is a safe and diverse area with plenty of signs of the history that the Levant region is known for.
Aqaba is another popular spot in the area, sitting on the Red Sea it is amazing for tourism and has a rich reef that can be explored by divers.
Beirut is another city on the coast which some have called the "Paris of the Middle East" due to its beautiful architecture with a heavy French influence. Beirut is the capital city of Lebanon and has an interesting culture of songwriters, writers, and other cultural figures.
Damascus is the oldest continually inhabited city known to humankind, and one of the origins of the Arabic language, depending on which historians you believe. This spiritual city has citadels, temples, and other religious sites.
Jerusalem is another city that has been the site of holy wars as well as being a key part of religious history whether you follow Judaism, Islam, or Christianity. This elevated city is in a plateau in the Judaean Mountains and sits in between both the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.
Tel Aviv is an Israeli city that features a huge amount of early 20th century architecture, and a breeze coming from the Mediterranean coast.
These are just some of the best-known cities in the Levant, there are a number of other amazing locations. The Red Sea and the ancient city of Petra are among the most popular tourist destinations.
Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.
UNESCO
Is The Levant Safe For Tourists?
This is a big question, but one that is asked by a lot of people. The answer is that there are areas of the Levant that are very safe, and areas that are not safe.
Syria is a place that, at the moment, should be avoided by tourists. At the time of writing this, the current from the UK Government is that "The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to Syria. British nationals in Syria should leave by any practical means."
However, there are many locations in the Levant region that are great for tourists to visit, and even countries that have suffered with war in recent years, such as Lebanon, can offer a safe space for tourists. Countries such as Jordan and Israel also have areas that are very safe, but ensure that you read up on every location you plan to visit and follow government advice on travel.
It is also a good idea to take out insurance before travelling to protect yourself.
Summary – The Levant Understood
Whatever your religious views and cultural views, the Levant is one of the most interesting places in the world. The region may be disputed in terms of which countries are within the area, but there are a lot of locations that nobody can deny are Levantine.
Culturally, archaeologically, and historically, the Levant region is full of interesting stories, and incredible buildings and wonders that can be visited to this day.
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