November 22: Independence Day in Lebanon
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Lebanon.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Lebanon was the ancient home of the Phoenician people, who created a network of city-states across the Mediterranean world. The Phoenician alphabet laid the foundation for the development of the Latin alphabet used by English and many other languages. The Phoenicians also sold lumber to Israel for the construction of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem in the 10th century BC.
The rise and fall of various empires and the spread of new religions affected the development of Lebanon. Today the country has a population of five million people. Though most of them are ethnically Arab, they belong to several Muslim sects and several Christian denominations. A sizeable minority are Druze, and much smaller numbers of people follow Judaism, Baha'i, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire before World War I. After that war, France administered a region in the Middle East that included modern Lebanon and Syria. Lebanon declared independence from France on November 22, 1943, during World War II.
During much of the 20th century, the president of Lebanon was traditionally a Maronite Christian and the prime minister was traditionally a Muslim. In the 1970s, cultural and religious disputes pulled the country into a long civil war that continued until 1990.
Though the country has continued to face internal challenges and conflict with its neighbors, the people of Lebanon are seeking ways to live together in a peaceful and stable society.
This photo shows people observing Independence Day in Beruit, Lebanon, on November 22, 2019. Photo by Arthur Sarradin / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This video shows women in Lebanon united in their desire for peace.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
