We obtain the symplectic group
Sp(V) as the universal completion of an amalgam of low rank subgroups akin to Levi components. We let
Sp(V) act flag-transitively on the geometry of maximal rank subspaces of
V. We show that this geometry and its rank
![greater-or-equal, slanted greater-or-equal, slanted](http://www.sciencedirect.com/scidirimg/entities/2a7e.gif)
3 residues are simply connected with few exceptions. The main exceptional residue is described in some detail. The amalgamation result is then obtained by applying Tits' lemma. This provides a new way of recognizing the symplectic groups from a small collection of small subgroups.