Do you get your history from Carry On films?
As for the present, most people in that part of the world are just as civilised as you are. Some more so.
You should know that IS are mostly comprised of paid mercenaries, plenty of psychos who are lured in with big money. And they don't represent the people of the countries they have been let loose in. They are killing locals everywhere they go, so I think it is unfair to label the whole region uncivilised because of a small minority of paid up, bloodthirsty, drugged up psychopaths.
For the record, bright lights and big cities don't mean that somewhere is civilised. There are just as many barbaric and uncivilised humans in our part of the world as anywhere else. There is no need for me to compile a long list of recent proof, it's easy to check and examples are never-ending.
If and when our country becomes 'lawless' you will see just as much barbarism on our shores as you now see on the news from other 'lawless' places.
And if the death squads weren't shipped in, sent over the borders and set upon the Syrian police, army and civilians it would still be. I can't quite believe how western govts such as the US and UK are getting away with their support for foreign mercenary opposition terrorists (who were never moderate at all) in Syria.
They are literally supporting IS and affiliates, and aren't trying to hide it. All sane people know that Assad needs to win this war, which he didn't start, for the sake of the whole region and the people there, and yet western govts want rid of Assad even if it means backing and helping the worst terrorists.