969 - 1076 A.D.

The Fatimids of Cairo take control of Damascus, causing great turbulence. The Byzantines control northwestern Syria (999–1001). Thus Syria is pressured by expansionists on both sides.

1023 - 1079 A.D.

The Mirdasid dynasty takes control of Aleppo amidst numerous rivalling emirates, thanks to its skilful diplomacy, particularly with the court of Badr al-Din Lu’lu’ in Mosul.

1055 A.D.

The Seljuqs take Baghdad and northern Syria. The beginning of the Seljuq sultanate and the revival of Islamic military and urban development along Sunni doctrines.

1058 A.D.

Abu al-Alaa al-Ma'arri, blind Syrian poet, dies. His most famous literary work, Risalat al-Ghufran (Letter of Forgiveness), inspires Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy three centuries later.