Syria is an early Roman province, annexed to the Roman Empire in 64 BCE by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence in the Levant, after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War.

Following the Jewish-Roman wars, Syria is merged with Judaea in 135 CE, creating the larger province of Syria Palaestina.

It remains under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for several centuries, until falling to the Islamic conquests.