In the Middle East under Ottoman rule Freemasonry was tolerated, emerging in the ancient city of Damascus as early as 1868 and continuing under colonial rule. In 1941, after Hitler's occupation of Paris, the Vichy French outlawed Freemasonry in all French territory and colonies. During World War II in Syria, Freemasonry emerged as Vichy control weakened and it continued to exist until it was outlawed by Syria's Baath regime in 1965, two years after they took power. East of the Grand Umayyad is the story of Damascus Freemasonry from 1868 until 1965. It shows how the creme-de-la-creme of Syrian society were Freemasons, men such as Fares al-Khoury and Abdul Rahman Shahbandar (leaders of the anti-colonial movement). This book shows how they contributed to the building of their societies through scholarly work in an academic setting, politics, industry, and philanthropy.