Damascus is said to be one of if not the oldest city in the world, so why has it never reached it's potential? as in becoming an empire like Babylon or Akkad. so, why is it that Damascus never become a minor or great power before the BAC. and the same for Ugarit. it had the potential (being the economic partner of egypt and the hittites, on the coast) so why didn't these two Cities in ancient Syria become empires?