PhD dessertation Discusses the Economic Variables of the Levant Coasts During the Crusades** On Thursday morning, February 29, 2024, a PhD dessertation was discussed in the Hall of (Sayyid Al-Shuhadah (AS)) in the College of Education for Humanities at the University of Karbala. The dessertation was in the Department of History, specializing in Islamic History, and was presented by the student (Hanaa Khudier Hussein) and entitled (The Economic Variables of the Levant Coasts During the Crusades). The dessertation was supervised by Professor Dr. (Hussein Kazem Hassoon). The dessertation consisted of four chapters preceded by an introduction and followed by a conclusion. The first chapter included “Political Conditions in the Syrian Coast During the Islamic Era” in three sections. The second chapter was entitled “Factors Influencing the Economic Variables of the Syrian Coasts During the Crusades” and was divided into three sections. The third chapter was entitled “Economic Variables in the Syrian Coast During the Crusades” and was divided into three sections. The fourth chapter included “The Impacts of the Economic Variables of the Syrian Coasts During the Crusades.” The study aims to show the economic variables that the Crusaders created in the “Syrian Coast” region, which includes several cities: Latakia, Jablah, Tartus, Arqa, Tripoli, Byblos, Beirut, Sidon, Tyre, Acre, Haifa, Caesarea, Arsuf, Jaffa, Ashkelon, Gaza. The study concluded with a number of conclusions, the most important of which is the validity of the hypothesis on which the study was based, which is that the Crusades were motivated by economic factors, especially after the religious factor melted away in the midst of the material and commercial ambitions of the Crusaders. The Syrian coasts also witnessed the interaction of economic and social factors during the Crusades, which contributed to some extent to the formation of a settlement structure for Italian cities through the establishment of commercial neighborhoods (communes), while preserving their Western character. After an extensive discussion by the scientific committee headed by Professor Dr. (Zaman Obeid Wanas), the thesis was approved, and the student was awarded a PhD in Islamic History. The discussion was attended by the Dean of the College, Professor Dr. (Sabah Wajid Ali).
