---
title: Levant
author: Jan van der Crabben
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Levant

_Authored by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/)_

Levant is the name applied widely to the eastern [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) coastal lands of [Asia Minor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/) and [Phoenicia](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/) (modern-day [Turkey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/), [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/), and Lebanon). In a wider sense, the term can be used to encompass the entire coastline from [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) to [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/). The Levant is part of the [Fertile Crescent](https://www.worldhistory.org/Fertile_Crescent/) and was home to some of the ancient Mediterranean [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) centers, such as [Ugarit](https://www.worldhistory.org/ugarit/), [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/), and [Sidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/sidon/). It is the homeland of the Phoenician [civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/civilization/).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Jan is the Founder & Chairman of World History Encyclopedia and is the organisation's Director of Design & Technology. He holds an MA War Studies from King's College, and he has worked in the field of history-related digital media since 2006.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/janvdc)

## Timeline

- **c. 6000 BCE**: First fortified settlement at [Ugarit](https://www.worldhistory.org/ugarit/).
- **c. 4000 BCE**: Founding of the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Sidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/sidon/).
- **c. 4000 BCE - c. 3000 BCE**: [Trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) contact between [Byblos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byblos/) and [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/).
- **c. 2900 BCE - c. 2300 BCE**: First settlement of [Baalbek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Baalbek/).
- **c. 2750 BCE**: The [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/) is founded.
- **c. 1458 BCE**: [Kadesh](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kadesh/) and Megiddo lead a Canaanite alliance against the [Egyptian](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Egyptian/) invasion by [Thutmose III](https://www.worldhistory.org/Thutmose_III/).
- **1274 BCE**: [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of [Kadesh](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kadesh/) between [Pharaoh](https://www.worldhistory.org/pharaoh/) [Ramesses II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ramesses_II/) of [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) and King Muwatalli II of the [Hittites](https://www.worldhistory.org/hittite/).
- **c. 1250 BCE - c. 1200 BCE**: Hebrew tribes settle [Canaan](https://www.worldhistory.org/canaan/).
- **c. 1200 BCE**: [Sea Peoples](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sea_Peoples/) invade the [Levant](https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/).
- **1115 BCE - 1076 BCE**: Reign of [Tiglath-Pileser I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tiglath_Pileser_I/) of [Assyria](https://www.worldhistory.org/assyria/) who conquers [Phoenicia](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/) and revitalizes the [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/).
- **c. 1080 BCE**: Rise of the [kingdom of Israel](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kingdom_of_Israel/).
- **c. 1000 BCE**: Height of [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/)'s power.
- **c. 965 BCE - 931 BCE**: [Solomon](https://www.worldhistory.org/solomon/) is king of [Israel](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Israel/).
- **950 BCE**: [Solomon](https://www.worldhistory.org/solomon/) builds the first [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of [Jerusalem](https://www.worldhistory.org/jerusalem/).
- **722 BCE**: [Israel](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Israel/) is conquered by [Assyria](https://www.worldhistory.org/assyria/).
- **351 BCE**: Artaxerxes III sacks [Sidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/sidon/).
- **332 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) sacks [Sidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/sidon/).
- **332 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) sacks [Baalbek](https://www.worldhistory.org/Baalbek/) and renames it Heliopolis.
- **332 BCE**: [Conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) of the [Levant](https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/) by [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) who destroys [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/).
- **Jan 332 BCE - Jul 332 BCE**: [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) besieges and conquers [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/).
- **64 BCE**: [Tyre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/) becomes a [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) colony.
- **c. 6 BCE - c. 30 CE**: Life of [Jesus Christ](https://www.worldhistory.org/Jesus_Christ/).
- **637 CE**: Muslim invasion of the [Levant](https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/). The Byzantines are driven out.

## External Links

- [The Levantine Ceramics Project](http://www.levantineceramics.org/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Crabben, J. v. d. (2011, April 28). Levant. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/>
### Chicago
Crabben, Jan van der. "Levant." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 28, 2011. <https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/>.
### MLA
Crabben, Jan van der. "Levant." *World History Encyclopedia*, 28 Apr 2011, <https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 28 April 2011. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.