In the 19th century, following the completion of the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1869, trade shifted to that route from the overland route through Syria, and the commercial importance of Aleppo and Damascus underwent a marked decline.
Pada abad ke-19, setelah selesainya Terusan Suez di Mesir pada tahun 1869, rute perdagangan bergeser jauh dari rute darat melalui Suriah, sehingga arti penting komersial Aleppo dan Damaskus mengalami penurunan.