Summary: From 1516 to 1918, most of Greater Syria (also known as Bilad al-Sham, the Levant), which includes modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Jordan, was under Ottoman rule. However, this rule took many forms throughout those four centuries as the Empire and its communities transformed and evolved. In this episode, Chris Gratien provides a historiographical overview of some of the major events, figures, topics and themes in the history of Ottoman Syria, which will serve as a backdrop for subsequent investigation.
