Timeline of Ottoman Syria history

The time line of Ottoman Syria lists the events during the existence of Ottoman Syria . 1516 Syria conquered by Ottomans. 1610 the first Arabic printing press in the Arab world founded in Dayr-Qazahya by Maronite monks. 1622 Fakhr ad-Din al-Ma'ni , prince of Shouf in Mount Lebanon , defeates at the Battle of Anjar an army led by the Wali (governor) of Damascus Mustafa Pasha. 1624 occupied with threat from the Safavids of Iran , the Ottomans agree to make Fakhr ad-Din governor over a region extending from Aleppo to Arish . During his rule, Fakhr ad-Din initiates political and cultural relations with Europe . 1633 the Wali of Damascus Ahmed Pasha leads a campaign against Fakhr ad-Din from both land and sea. 1635 Fakhr ad-Din hanged in Damascus. 1702 an Arabic press founded in Aleppo by patriarch Athanasius of Aleppo. 1755 French Lazarist monks open first mission school in Damascus. 1800 Nasif al-Yaziji born in Kfarshima . 1822 Aleppo severely damaged by an earthquake. 1831 Muhammad Ali of Egypt invades Syria. 1832 an Egyptian Army lead by İbrahim Pasha marches on Anatolia and defeates an Ottoman army under Grand Vizier Reshid Pasha at the Battle of Konya . 1833 western powers broker the Convention of Kutahya . The terms require Muhammad Ali to withdraw his troops from Anatolia and receive the territories of Syria, Crete , and Hijaz in exchange. 1839 war again between Muhammad Ali and the Ottomans. 1840 western powers force Muhammad Ali to withdraw from Syria after the Convention of London . 1840 The Tanzimat reforms begin to have an impact in Syria. 1840 secterian clashes in Mount Lebanon between Druze and Christian Maronites . 1847 the Syrian Association founded in Beirut. 1854 Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi born in Aleppo. 1855 the first Syrian newspaper founded in Istanbul by Rizq-Allah Hassoun . 1855 the first printing press in Damascus. 1860 clashes between Druze and Maronites in Mount Lebanon and Damascus. 1860 Butrus al-Bustani starts in Beirut the Nafir Surya newspaper ( the reveille of Syria ). 1861 European powers led by France intervene on the side of the Maronites and force the Ottomans to establish the Maronite-dominated Mutesarrifiyyet of Mount Lebanon. 1861 Damascus connected with Istanbul by telegraph cable. 1864 government printing press established in Damascus. 1865 the first government newspaper issued in Damascus under the name Syria . 1867 the first government newspaper issued in Aleppo under the name Al-Furat . 1868 the American University in Beirut established under the name of the Syrian Protestant College . 1868 the Syrian Scientific Society founded in Beirut. 1874 Jerusalem becomes a Mutesarrifiyyet gaining a special administrative status. 1877–1878 the Russo-Turkish War causes increased taxation in Syria. 1877 the Shahba' pro-secular newspaper founded in Aleppo by al-Kawakbi . 1883 Khalil Gibran born in Bsharri . 1893 a fire destroys the Great Mosque of Damascus . 1895 construction of railway line Damascus- Rayek ; in 1906 Rayek-Aleppo. 1895 construction of railway Beirut -Damascus. 1900-1908 construction of Railroad Damascus- Medina . 1914 Ottomans fight on the side of the Central Powers in World War I . 1915-1917 famine in Syria resulting in up to 500,000 deaths due to severe shortage of supplies. 1916 the Sykes-Picot Agreement foresees the partition of Syria between Britain and France . 1916 the Mutasarrifiyet of Mount Lebanon abolished. 1917 the Balfour Declaration foresees a Jewish state in Palestine . 1918 Forces of the Arab Revolt enter Damascus accompanied by British troops ending 400 years of Ottoman rule.¹