Syria Through History: Who Ruled Its Lands
The land of today's Syria appears on 39 historical border maps from 500 BC to today. Over that time it was held, in whole or in part, by 27 different states, among them Ottoman Empire, Syria, Syria (France), Eastern Roman Empire, Roman Empire.
SyriaExplore the history of Syria in the interactive map
Compare 1000 with today · Syria as a state on the map
Who ruled the land of Syria, map by map
Share of sample points inside today's borders held by each state on each map. Areas with no organised state on the map are left out.
Historic cities in Syria
Famous people of Syria
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| 1137 – 1193 | Saladin | Sultan of Egypt and Syria |
| 1332 – 1406 | Ibn Khaldun | Historian |
| 1336 – 1405 | Timur (Tamerlane) | Founder of the Timurid Empire |
Battles and historic sites
| Year | Battle or site |
|---|---|
| AD 636 | Battle of Yarmouk |
Questions
Which empires and states ruled the territory of Syria?
On the border maps from 500 BC to today, the largest shares of the territory of modern Syria belonged to Ottoman Empire, Syria, Syria (France), Eastern Roman Empire, Roman Empire, Mamluk Sultanate, along with 21 other states.
What was Syria part of in 1000?
On the border map for 1000, most of the territory of today's Syria lay within Fatimid Caliphate.
What was Syria part of in 1500?
On the border map for 1500, most of the territory of today's Syria lay within Mamluk Sultanate.
What was Syria part of in 1900?
On the border map for 1900, most of the territory of today's Syria lay within Ottoman Empire.
Further reading
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.