Syria (Major Nations of the Modern Middle East Series)

The land known as Syria is at the heart of the Middle East. Dotting Syria's landscape are the ancient ruins of the many civilization that have ruled this land, dating back some 8,000 years. These ruins bear witness to Syria's troubled past under the rule of competing empires and colonial powers. Today the Syria Arab Republic is ruled by a brutal dictator, Bashar al-Assad, whose repressive policies and blatant disregard for human rights has led to the outbreak of a devastating civil war. That …