<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article contains Arabic text . Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article contains Arabic text . Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols . </Td> </Tr> <P> Lebanon (/ ˈlɛbənɒn / (listen); Arabic: لبنان ‎ Lubnān; Lebanese pronunciation: (lɪbˈnæːn); French: Liban), officially known as the Lebanese Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية ‎ al - Jumhūrīyah al - Lubnānīyah; Lebanese pronunciation: (elˈʒʊmhuːɾɪjje l. ˈlɪbnæːnɪjje); French: République libanaise), is a sovereign state in Western Asia . It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea . Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity . At just 10,452 km (4,036 sq. mi .), it is the smallest recognized country on the entire mainland Asian continent . </P> <P> The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years, predating recorded history . Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites / Phoenicians and their kingdoms, a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years (c. 1550--539 BC). In 64 BC, the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire, and eventually became one of the Empire's leading centers of Christianity . In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established . As the Arab Muslims conquered the region, the Maronites held onto their religion and identity . However, a new religious group, the Druze, established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well, generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries . During the Crusades, the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome . The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era . </P>

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