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Before this, Lebanon is a multinational state. Through religious wars and growth of empires, Lebanon becomes a religious and ethnic mosaic of Jews, Romans, Armenians, Persians, Greeks, Phoenecians, and Syrians.
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The Mongols end crusades and fight the Mamluks. The Mamluks won and conquered Mount Lebanon. Lebanese Shiities, considered friends of the Mongols, were persecuted, killed, and driven away to the mountains.
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Ottomans defeated Mamluks and took the region. Despite the imperialism of the Turkish, Mount Lebanon enjoyed a surprising amount of autonomy for three centuries. Sunnis and Greeks Catholics dominated coastal cities, Druze, Shiites, and Maronites inhabited mountains, mountains became haven for persecuted minorities
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WWI begins. The Western Allied Forces (France and North African), fight in Lebanon against the Ottoman Empire. The Allied Forces eventually win the war.
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After an armistice, Lebanon is declared an “occupied enemy territory”.
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A mandate is signed giving Lebanon to the French. The League of Nations wants the French to help Lebanon work towards independence.
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Cilicia is given back to Turkey. Turkish Christians and Armenian survivors of Turkish massacres flee to Lebanon.
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Under French rule the regions of Lebanon, with their varying religious and ethnic groups, are united as one multinational semi-autonomous region, officially part of the French Colonial Empire.
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The Lebanese constitution is completed, with specific outlines for religious representation in government.
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France is at war with Germany. The Lebanese constitution is suspended and parliament dissolved. The Lebanese president (Émile Eddé) has hardly any power.
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French representative (Charles De Gaulle) appoints a “head of government” (Alfred Naccache) for Lebanon. President Eddé abdicates. Food is scarce because of British blockades, and the people are protesting.
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Lebanon is liberated by the British. French representatives, including Gaulle, leave for France
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The French finally recognize Naccache as the president of Lebanon.
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The Marionite president (Bechara al-Khoury) and Sunnite prime minister (Riad al-Solh) draw up a national pact for Muslims and Christians to commit themselves to living peacefully together. Both sides were to renounce attachment to larger pan-Arab and western powers
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Lebanon gains sovereignty from France.
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Lebanon is one of the founding members of United Nations.
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French troops finally leave Lebanon, marks the end of French territoriality in region
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Arab-Israeli war begins, eventually bringing well over a 100,000 Palestinian refugees to Lebanon.
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First Lebanese president (Bechara al-Khoury) abdicates, supposedly elected fraudulently, when a general strike paralyzes the young state. An anti-Nasserist president (Camille Chamoun) succeeds and remains loyal to Western powers, while Nasserist pan-arabism appeal spreads throughout Lebanon.
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Pro-nasserist Lebanese journalist (Nasib al-Matni) is murdered, triggering insurrection. Though he was Maronite, insurgents are muslim. Lebanese army stayed neutral.
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US marines land in Lebanon to protect from spreading Nasser influence. Lebanon remained somewhat stable, despite attempted coups and such.
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Palestinian refugees took refuge in Southern Lebanon, near border, leading to frequent incursions from the Israeli army against Palestinian camps
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Tensions rise in Lebanon as they attempt to remain neutral, despite danger and attacks between Palestinians and Israelis, eventually leading to civil war
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