Title: Origins, Spatiality, Conceptual Construction, and Contributions of Ancient Syrian Civilization

Abstract: Situated at a crossroads of civilizations, Ancient Syria witnessed a distinctive civilizational process marked by the emergence of complex urban societies. Its evolution progressed through stages: from early endogenous development, through a middle period of cultural integration, to the maturation of a pluralistic yet unified structure during the Greco-Roman era. A “centrifugal” geographical structure fostered a developmental model characterized by “weak political systems but strong civilizational influence,” while the perspective of the “Other” in its territorial construction profoundly shaped its historical trajectory. The outstanding contributions of Ancient Syrian civilization in maritime exploration, alphabetic writing, and monotheistic belief systems not only underscore its core significance as a civilizational hub but also provide a valuable historical framework for understanding intercultural exchanges and contemporary regional governance.

Keywords: Ancient Syrian civilization, urban society, historical spatiality, civilizational contributions

Authors: Xingang Wang, Professor, School of History, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China; Wenxing Zhang, School of Foreign Languages, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China.

DOI: 10.19967/j.cnki.flc.2026.01.006