Editing History of Lebanon (section)

===Islamic rule===
{{Main|Bilad al-Sham|Muslim conquest of the Levant|7th century in Lebanon|8th century in Lebanon}}
During the [[7th century in Lebanon|7th century AD]] the Muslim Arabs [[Muslim conquest of the Levant|conquered Syria]] soon after the death of [[Muhammad]], establishing a new regime to replace the Romans (or [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] as the Eastern Romans are sometimes called). Though Islam and the Arabic language were officially dominant under this new regime, the general populace still took time to convert from Christianity and the [[Syriac language]]. In particular, the Maronite community clung to its faith and managed to maintain a large degree of autonomy despite the succession of rulers over Syria. Muslim influence increased greatly in the seventh century, when the nearby city Damascus, in modern-day Syria, was set as the capital of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]].

During the reign of [[Uthman]], who ruled the [[Rashidun Caliphate]] between 644 and 656, Islam gained prominence in Damascus, primarily due to [[Mu'awiya I|Mu'awiya]], a relative of Uthman who served as the governor. Mu'awiya deployed forces to Lebanon's coastal region, where he expanded Islamic influence, resulting in conversions to Islam among the coastal residents. However, in the mountainous areas, the local population retained their Christian or other cultural traditions.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last1=Najem |first1=Tom |title=Historical Dictionary of Lebanon |last2=Amore |first2=Roy C. |last3=Abu Khalil |first3=As'ad |date=2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-2043-9 |edition=2nd |series=Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East |location=Lanham Boulder New York London |pages=2–8}}</ref> Moreover, both Christians and Jews were obliged to pay the ''[[jizya]]'', or poll tax, to Islamic rulers. The collection of this tax from mountain Christians saw inconsistent enforcement until the [[First Crusade]], where it ceased under Latin rule. A revival occurred under the [[Mamluk Sultanate|Mamluks]], concluding with its abolition through an Ottoman edict in 1856.<ref name=":4" />

After the Islamic conquest, Mediterranean trade faced a prolonged decline lasting three centuries, attributed to maritime conflicts between the Islamic caliphate and the Byzantines. The partially damaged ports, vital as naval strongholds for the caliphate, struggled to regain prosperity. Despite attempts involving military presence and new settlers, the cities of Tyre, Sidon, Beirut, and Tripoli likely sustained populations of only a few thousand each during the Umayyad and [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] periods.<ref name=":4" />

By 758, the Abbasid Caliph [[al-Mansur]] tasked the Arab [[Tanukhids]] with the defense of the hills around Beirut. In 845, tensions flared as Tanukhs clashed with Christians in [[Kisrawan]].<ref name=":4" />

In the 980s, the [[Fatimid Caliphate]] gained dominance over Mount Lebanon. Under Fatimid rule, the region experienced a renaissance in Mediterranean trade along the Lebanese coast, stimulated by commercial connections with Byzantium and Italy. Consequently, Tripoli and Tyre thrived well into the 11th century, specializing in the export of products like cotton and silk textiles, sugar, and glassware.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Harris |first=William W. |title=Lebanon: A History, 600-2011 |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-518111-1 |edition= |series=Studies in Middle Eastern history |location=New York, N.Y |pages=3–28}}</ref>

In the 1020s, the [[Druze]] sect began to diverge from [[Isma'ilism|Isma’ili Shia Islam]]. [[Tanukhids|Tanukhid]] chiefs embraced the "Call," acknowledging Fatimid Caliph [[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]] as divine, thereby establishing the foundation of the sect in Mount Lebanon.<ref name=":4" /> The new faith gained followers in the southern portion of Lebanon.