In fact , the way in which Syria was governed reinforced the autonomy of these distinct ethnic and religious communities . The Ottomans enforced a policy of pluralism , intended to appease different nations and quell the rise of nationalist movements , in which Jews , Christians and Muslims were all empowered to assert their own identities and therefore had no need to vie for power . Each religious community , known as a " millet , " had a representative in Istanbul and was allowed to organize its own affairs , including its people 's education , social services and charities and even some of the legal standards by which they lived . The millet controlled all internal disputes such as marriage , divorce , inheritance , and the distribution and collection of taxes . The residue of this community-specific system remained in modern Syria ; for example , everyone knew you went to the Armenian quarter to get your silver . Although the Armenians have had a long history in Syria , most arrived there during the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire . The main killing fields of Armenians were located in the Syrian desert of Deir ez-Zor ( Euphrates Valley ) . During the Genocide , More than a million Armenians were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced from historic Armenia . The native Arabs did n't hesitate to shelter and support persecuted Armenians . Arabs and Armenians have traditionally had good relations , especially after they sheltered the Armenians during the Armenian Genocide . There was also a minor Arab genocide in Anatolia at the same time , which meant they had affinity with one another
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Armenians in Syria