Lebanon: From Paris of the Middle East to Civil War

From "Paris of the Middle East" to devastating civil war.  
Lebanon wasn't one headline—it was 15 years of militias, invasions, and heartbreak that pulled in the world during the Cold War.  

This *History Ignited* episode explains the tensions, the 1982 invasion, the 1983 Marine barracks bombing, and why Billy Joel put just "Lebanon" in the song.  

**Timestamps:**  
0:00 – Intro  
1:20 – Beirut: Paris of the Middle East  
3:00 – Tensions & Palestinian Fighters  
5:10 – 1975: Civil War Begins  
7:30 – 1982 Invasion & Sabra/Shatila  
9:50 – 1983 Beirut Bombing  
12:10 – Why It’s in the Song  
14:20 – Legacy Today  
16:00 – Titanic Lebanon Connection  
17:30 – Book on the Shelf Joke!  

❤️ LIKE if history teaches us empathy  
🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly drops  
💬 COMMENT: “What surprised you most?”  

More: Cold War | Billy Joel lyrics  
#Lebanon #LebaneseCivilWar #HistoryIgnited

Send us Fan Mail

About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.