Levantines

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Levantines

small ethnic groups that make up part of the Syrian and Lebanese population; descendants of European colonists (mainly Italian and French) who settled in the coastal regions of Syria and Lebanon at the beginning of the Crusades (late 11th and early 12th centuries) and mingled with the local inhabitants. Most Levantines speak Arabic. Their religion is primarily Maronite or Catholic; a small number of Levantines are Muslims.

References in periodicals archive ?

Typical Levantines acted at the top of the hierarchy of class of intermediaries governing the relations of the Ottoman Empire with the outside world; coming before, generally richer than, and individually collaborating and socially in competition with, respectively, Greeks, Armenians and Jews, all on the background of the decline of the Empire, in a regime characterized by the capitulations and other privileges, foreign debt and outside intervention into politics.

IZMIR, Aug 1, 2009 (TUR) -- Levantine mansions in the Aegean province of Izmir are under protection, mayor said on Friday.

Mayor Kamil Okyay Sindir of Bornova town of the Aegean province of Izmir said that the municipality would restore one of the Levantine mansions in their town.

Sindir said tradesmen who were exporting cotton, grapes and figs from the Aegean Region and importing various products via Silk Road, were settled in Bornova town and built the Levantine mansions.