Phoenicia (No 602 War)

Phoenicia is a country in Asia, bound between the Mediterranenan to the west and Syria to the east. It also borders Israel to the south.

History
Phoenicia has been home to a civilization of marines, merchants and entrepreneurs. However in the 11th century it was captured by Mongols together with Syria. A Crusade has been called and the Crusaders set up a handful of states in the area.

The area saw immigration of collonists from France and Italy and later it was reincorporated into Romania. Following the levantine war, it came under French protection, but during the interwar period it returned to Byzantium. It gained independence as late as 1981, following a popular referendum.

Administrative divisions

 * 1) Laodikia
 * 2) Antarad
 * 3) Tripoli
 * 4) Beryt
 * 5) Sidon
 * 6) Tyre

Demographics
The 5 877 000 citizens  are mostly Christian (99%), following mostly Syriac (82%) and Latin (14%) rites. The major ethnci groups include Phoenicians (70%), who were converted to Christianity by St. Maron, Levantines- descendants of the Crusaders (12%), Syriacs  (12%). There is also a small Greek (3%) ,Armenian and French presence.

The official language, French is an heritage since Napoleon. The linguistic dispute between the Punic-speaking Phoenicians (49%) and Aramaic-*speaking (20%)  has been present since the Phoenician national awakening when the ancient language has been revived.

The most teached foreign languages are French and Greek.