Bilad Al Sham

The origin of the concept of the Bilad Al Sham (Bilad Al Sham) or the countries of the East goes back to the French word (lever), which refers to the sunrise as a sign of the east. As for a geographical term, the Bilad Al Sham refers to the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and its neighboring islands, [1][2 The Bilad Al Sham is located in the continent of Asia, specifically in the middle of the western region of it, and it represents the western and central part of the Fertile Crescent region, and includes Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, and its total area is estimated at about 307,134 km 2, and it is a distinct region, as it is characterized by ethnic diversity Great, cultural, and religious.

Naming the Bilad Al Sham

 There are many narrations that explain the reason for naming the Bilad Al Shamby this name, as one of them indicates that the reason is due to the large number of black and white moles that distinguish the soil and stones of its lands, and this is a reference to the geographical nature of the region, while in another narration it was mentioned that the name Cham is a relative of Sam, the son of the Prophet Noah, peace be upon him, who is considered the first person to live in that region. Because it is located on the .northern side of the Kaaba.

The history of the Bilad Al Sham 

The name of the land of Canaan was given to the Bilad Al Sham in the past, in relation to the peoples who came to this region after their departure from the Arabian Peninsula, and many tribes came later from the regions of the Aegean Sea and others, who settled in the coastal plain areas, and the tribes continued Different people came to the Bilad Al Sham, as it was inhabited by many peoples, and the situation continued until the country was subject to Roman rule for a period of seven centuries, then after the Islamic conquest it was divided into several armies, so that the Bilad Al Sham today includes all the territories within Jordan, Palestine, and Syria, And Lebanon.

The geography of the Bilad Al Sham

 lies between the three continents. Asia, Africa, and Europe, and thus form a natural bridge between Asia and Africa. The Bilad Al Sham is located along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and is bordered by the Tartous Mountains from the north, and the desert from the south and east. The vastness is the most important basic feature of the country from west to east. As for astronomically speaking, the Bilad Al Sham is located within the moderate region in relation to latitude circles, which is reflected in its climate, as it is affected by both the subtropical high pressure belt in the summer, and depressions Mid-latitude regions during the winter season, and therefore the regions of the Bilad Al Sham generally enjoy hot summers and wet, cold winters.

Trade in the Bilad Al Sham 

The Bilad Al Sham had a great role in trade between countries during the Middle Ages, which made it one of the largest trade centers in the world, as it used to import rare and exotic goods from all regions, and supply them to their markets in large quantities, and this in turn encouraged merchants to visit it from all over the world. A place in order to obtain these commodities, and commercial activities began in the Bilad Al Sham in the period between the fourth and fifteenth centuries AD, as the activity was based on importing soap, clothes, fabrics, and others from the cities of Venice and Genoa, in addition to exporting, which relied on grain. , cotton, and spices, and despite all that the Bilad Al Sham faced, it retained its important commercial position during the eighteenth century AD and beyond. There are many factors that contributed to the growth and prosperity of commercial activity in the Bilad Al Sham, and while Some of these factors come from The strategic geographical location enjoyed by the regions of the Bilad Al Sham. The prevalence of safety and security. Encouraging the Bilad Al Shamto trade directly and indirectly. The growing need of the caliphs and senior men of the Bilad Al Sham for foreign goods, which in turn led to an increase in demand for them. The presence of many markets and commercial ports, which had a positive role in enhancing the movement of external and internal commercial activity between the Bilad Al Sham and other countries.

 Tourism in The Bilad Al Sham 

All regions of the Bilad Al Sham contribute to the development of the tourism sector in it, as these regions are considered the tourist destination for many Western tourists, due to the presence of many places and landmarks that attract them, in addition to the historical and religious background of the region, which attracted merchants, writers, And other tourists to visit it, as the Bilad Al Sham became in the late nineteenth century AD the main cultural tourist destination, and it witnessed tourism activity in an early period, then an increase in the number of tourists, which showed the need for local adaptation to meet their requirements, and provide them with amenities, and this in turn had A great impact on the development of societies, the strengthening of the local economy of those areas, interest in various facilities and services, and the development of infrastructure that allows tourists to move easily.