Conquest of Bilad a-Sham Province by Turkish Sultan Selim I Under Mamluk Rule

The Ottoman conquest of the region in 1516-17 marked a significant turning point in its history. Prior to this, the area was under the control of the Mamluks and was part of Bilad a-Sham, which encompassed modern-day Syria. The Turkish Sultan Selim I led the campaign that resulted in the annexation of this territory, integrating it into the expanding Ottoman Empire. For the next four centuries, the region was administered as part of Ottoman Syria. Initially, it was organized as the Damascus Eyalet, which served as a crucial administrative division within the empire. In 1864, during the Tanzimat reforms aimed at modernizing the empire, the administrative structure was further reformed, and the area became known as the Syria Vilayet. This reorganization was part of broader efforts to enhance governance and improve the efficiency of administration across the empire. The Ottoman period significantly influenced the cultural, social, and political landscape of the region, leaving a lasting legacy that can still be observed today.