Lebanese Awakening :: history

Lebanese AwakeningUnder the Ottoman Empire, the Lebanese enjoyed a social & cultural development arrange that was flourishing. The Lebanese Christians unplowed good ties with the Europeans that would occasionally visit and spread their influence. The Ottoman reform had an impact on every part of the Empire, including a major intent in Lebanon. The Muslims recognized the strength and superiority of the western military at that placefore they adopted some of the westerners methods. The Muslims feared the western domination, but were subject to change for scientific enhancements. However, the Lebanese were living through a ray of freedom in which they compulsioned to modernize and enhance their ways of life. The population density in Lebanon was crowded and that kept people in communities. The Lebanese are also open to foreign influence. They now have secure lives and own property. Some young Lebanese went to Italy to sire priests. Of them, some went on to spread Orientalism in Par is and Rome while the rest came back to open schools to preach in. During the 18th century the influence from popish graduates started to show. Through the church reforms, education was spreading through the opening of schools in Bqrqasha, Louwaze and Zougharta. In the 18th century, the best Maronite education was in Ayn Waraqa. These graduates carried on to become regnant figures through the 19th century. The Greek Catholics came from Syria to Lebanon to join the maronites and improve literacy. Main problem was that provided well-off families could be educated while the rest stayed ignorant. The Muslims didnt want the Arabic language to be used because they considered it sacred and holy. The only education Islamic people taught were religion and the Koran. In return the Druze and Greek Orthodox were the only ones left without superfluous educational levels. Besides the Druze protected their holy texts so much they had nothing to learn. The next problem rose with the lack of book s. As schools opened, there were less and less books available because they were handwritten. The press could not use Arabic because of the Muslims so they used Syriac. First books written were about religion, and then eventually demonstrable into culture. The cultural movement didnt have a popular effect, because only a minority was getting educated. Niqula Turk was a pioneering Lebanese poet that awakened new ambitions among his young contemporaries. Al-Turk represented a wide literary movement in which more poets were rising such as Butrus Karam.