I'm writing an AU modern-day fanfic from a canon set during the reign of the Roman Empire Republic (ETA: Specifically, between 73-71 BC) and I have several interdependent questions
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My understanding is that the largest ethnic group in Syria in 70 BC were the Arameans. They were a Semitic group related to the Hebrews, Phoenicians and Canaanites. Their native language, Aramaic, became one of the linguae francae of the Middle East, used by both the Assyrian Empire and the Persian Empire which replaced it.
The Greek word 'Syria' does derive etymologically from 'Assyria', but by your period it was applied as a generic term for the whole of the western Middle East, including modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine and Jordan. The actual Assyrian Empire was long gone.
In 70 BC the dominant political power had recently been the Seleucid Kingdom, also called Coele-Syria ('Coele' is Greek for 'Whole' or 'Entire' or 'Great'), which was one of the kingdoms set up by Alexander the Great's generals after his conquests. Its capital Antioch was one of the largest cities in the world with 500,000 people living there. In 83 BC though, the area was annexed by Armenia. 14 years later in 69 BC a Roman army defeated the Armenians and restored the Seleucid Kingdom of Syria as a vassal state. Five years after that they annexed Syria completely and made it a Roman province.
The Arameans were mostly assimilated by the Arabs after the Islamic conquest of the region in the 7th century AD, and most people from the region today would speak Arabic and regard themselves as Arabs. However, the Syriac Christian Church does retain a separate minority identity, and uses Aramaic as a ritual language in its liturgy the way Catholics used Latin.
The Greek word 'Syria' does derive etymologically from 'Assyria', but by your period it was applied as a generic term for the whole of the western Middle East, including modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine and Jordan. The actual Assyrian Empire was long gone.
In 70 BC the dominant political power had recently been the Seleucid Kingdom, also called Coele-Syria ('Coele' is Greek for 'Whole' or 'Entire' or 'Great'), which was one of the kingdoms set up by Alexander the Great's generals after his conquests. Its capital Antioch was one of the largest cities in the world with 500,000 people living there. In 83 BC though, the area was annexed by Armenia. 14 years later in 69 BC a Roman army defeated the Armenians and restored the Seleucid Kingdom of Syria as a vassal state. Five years after that they annexed Syria completely and made it a Roman province.
The Arameans were mostly assimilated by the Arabs after the Islamic conquest of the region in the 7th century AD, and most people from the region today would speak Arabic and regard themselves as Arabs. However, the Syriac Christian Church does retain a separate minority identity, and uses Aramaic as a ritual language in its liturgy the way Catholics used Latin.
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