Lebanon History and Culture

Byblos (Jbeil) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world. From coastal cities such as Byblos, Tyre and Sidon, the Phoenicians sailed the whole Mediterranean, trading cedar wood and purple dye and spreading the alphabet that underlies Greek and Latin script.

Under Rome, Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley gained the largest temple complex in the Roman world; the columns of the Temple of Jupiter and the superbly preserved Temple of Bacchus still astonish. Beirut was home to a famous Roman school of law. The Umayyad town of Anjar, with its arcaded streets, dates to the 8th century.

Later centuries brought Crusader-era castles, Mamluk mosques in Tripoli and centuries of Ottoman administration, when Mount Lebanon developed its own distinct identity. Modern Lebanon gained independence in 1943 and became famous for banking, publishing, education and the arts. See the regional history timeline.

Beirut's Ottoman-era mansions with triple-arched windows, its Art Deco apartment blocks and its contemporary galleries tell a story of a city that has always loved design. Lebanese fashion designers dress stars on red carpets worldwide, and the writer Khalil Gibran, born in Bsharri, remains one of the best-selling poets in history.

Fairuz, whose voice opens mornings across the Arab world, and the Baalbek International Festival, held among the Roman temples, are cultural treasures. Traditional crafts include glass blowing, Jezzine cutlery with bird-shaped handles, and mother-of-pearl inlay. See the region's wider music traditions.

The word Bible comes from Byblos, through the Greek word for papyrus, once traded through its port. The cedar on Lebanon's flag appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh. You can ski in the mountains and swim in the sea on the same day in spring. Lebanon's diaspora, many times larger than its population at home, has carried Lebanese food, music and enterprise to every continent, from São Paulo to Detroit. Americans of Lebanese descent include celebrated figures in medicine, business and entertainment, so many visitors arrive already knowing a little of the culture. Plan your visit with our Lebanon travel guide and our page on Beirut's hotels and dining.