Syria, Lebanon, Jordan

Unfortunately, however, to most British and American readers the expression new nations conveys an impression of uncivilized people to whom it is our duty to impart the blessings of our culture. In the case of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan such an idea is most emphatically not applicable. Human history can be traced, with more or less accuracy, for some five thousand years. Of these, Syria was in advance of western Europe in civilization and culture for four thousand five hundred years. Only during the last five hundred years has the West taken the lead. If, therefore, we think of our history in thousands of years, it is we, rather than they, who are new and emergent.

It is true that, in the last century and a half, the West has forged ahead of the world in mechanical and manufacturing skills which have produced wealth of which men had never before even dreamed. But we are in error if, in our pride at our material achievements, we speak as if no other race had ever before been wise, cultured or civilized.

Another difficulty arises when we refer, even if briefly, to the history of these ancient lands. If we wished to be purists, we could say that Syria, Lebanon and Jordan only came into existence after the Second World War and thus have only some twenty/one years of history. But if we did in fact adopt this approach, we should be utterly unable to understand anything of the situation today. For the institutions, the traditions, the religion and the whole mentality of these ancient peoples are the product of five thousand years of history. Yet, incredible as it may seem when we consider it seriously,