Syria

Located in the Middle East, Syria's many cities and towns have been inhabited since medieval times, and Damascus, its capital, is one of the longest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Until World War I, Syria was a part of the Ottoman Empire, and as a result, there is a large Turkish influence. From World War I until independence in 1946, Syria was administered by the French.

Since early modern times, men in towns and cities have been playing a Turkish version of Backgammon called Tavla, as well as Dominoes or playing cards, as they sit around in coffee shops and talk, trying to solve “the problems of the world.” Quite a number can also be seen involved in playing games of Chess, which is said to have, in its current form, originated in the region. The playing of the game, and its promotion within the country, is overseen by the Syrian Arab Chess Federation.

In terms of recreational sports, golf, basketball, wrestling (including greased wrestling), boxing, and tennis also have a following, although most of these activities tend to be undertaken in the morning before about 10 a.m., or in the evening, after 5 p.m., when it is cooler. Occasionally, older men can be seen playing boules, a carry-over from the French occupation, but this is now exceedingly rare. Some of the wealthy population still play croquet.

Although discussing battle strategies has long been the preserve of men talking in coffee shops, the availability of Wargames figurines has led to many boys and young men taking up Wargaming, with Crusader battles, the campaigns of Lawrence of Arabia in World War I, and more recent conflicts, such as those in 1967, being replayed in schools and houses throughout the country. Model making of cars, boats or airplanes, as well as the making of dioramas, has been hugely influenced by the availability of model kits, which are imported from overseas. Board games such as Monopoly, Ulcers, and Risk often now come with instructions in Arabic and are sold in Syria.

While boys can often be found on the streets or in courtyards playing soccer, in contrast, few women or girls are found playing or relaxing outside. In the countryside, the nomads and the Bedouin often amuse themselves with music. The country remains intensively conservative, and although some computer games are available and used by wealthier children and young people, there are also none of the amusement arcades and pinball parlors found in Western Europe and North America.