Lebanon | Transitions Toolkit

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese Republic, is a nation situated at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, a historical nexus of trade and culture. Its strategic location has historically positioned it as a bridge between the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, a role that has shaped its diverse populace and rich heritage. With an area of 10,452 square kilometers, Lebanon is home to over five million people, with its capital and largest city being Beirut. The country's history stretches back to 5000 BC, encompassing periods of Phoenician maritime dominance, Roman and Byzantine rule, and successive Arab Islamic caliphates. Later centuries saw the influence of Crusader states, followed by the Mamluks and the Ottoman Empire, before emerging as a modern state in the 20th century. This layered history has endowed Lebanon with a unique cultural mosaic, reflected in its official languages of Arabic and French, and its complex social fabric.