IN THE MIDDLE
Map
of the Middle East
Interactive map of
the Middle East
one of the world's
great physical and human junctions
culture hearths
Babylonian agricultural clay token
King
Tut, Egypt
dominance of Islamic
religion and Arabic language
strategic
importance of region
Where do the countries
of the Middle East stand in terms of core and periphery?
global
choke points
Gulf of Hormuz choke point
Suez Canal choke point
world regional dominated
by arid climate
scarce water resources
population density is greatest near adequate water supply
rapid population growth
RELIGIONS AND LANGUAGES
early civilizations
of Mesopotamia and Egypt
Mesopotamia, located in a region that included parts
of what is now eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and
most of Iraq, lay between two rivers, the Tigris and
the Euphrates. The name Mesopotamia is a Greek word
meaning "between the rivers." Its oldest known communities
date from 7000 B.C. Several civilizations
flourished in the region.
Islam, Christianity,
and Judaism
roots of Islam:
Mohammed (571-632)Islam became a unifying factor in the region and throughout the world. Christians weren’t
Qur’an (Koran)
Mecca
the only ones who went out to convert the people of the world (whether they wanted to be
converted or not). Over the next centuries, areas of the Middle East, Europe, Asia and
Africa converted to Islam.
The rise of Islam carried with it the rise
of Arab culture. While Europe lay under the Dark
Ages, the Arab community produced a remarkable
culture. Art, architecture, science and
many other disciplines flourished during this
period.
1. Shahada, "There is no god but Allah
and Mohammed is his prophet"
2. Salat, mandatory prayer 5 times
a day
3. Zakat, almsgiving - give money to
the poor
4. Sawm, fasting during Ramadan (somewhat
like Christian Lent)
5. Hajj,
pilgrimage to Mecca
Islam: Sunni and Shi'ite (or Shi'a)
Sunni Muslim:
- 85 % of all Muslims
are Sunni Muslims
- wanted successors
of Mohammed to be based on leadership qualities
Shi'ite Muslim:
- wanted successors
of Mohammed to be based on family lineage
- generally more
conservative
shari'a
- Islamic law; no separation of church and state (e.g.,
Pakistan, Afghanistan)
Arab and Islamic Political Movements
Arab
League
Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO)
Organization of the Islamic Conference
| Islamic Jihad | Hizbollah |
| Hamas | Taliban |
ISLAMIC REVIVALISM
"Islamic fundamentalism"
versus "Islamic revivalism"
secularism vs religious rule - Iran made the leap in 1979 with Ayatollah
Khomeni
How does economic prosperity influence religious unrest?
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Dry Climates and Natural Vegetation
Sahara
Desert
temperature range: large day-night differences
light, variable precipitation
dominates this region
Clashing Plates - what does this have to do with oil?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Oil
Resources
oil
rich countries, oil poor countries
2/3 of known world oil reserves
Organization
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
strategic importance
of oil
enormous reserves of oil and natural gas have elevated standard of living
for small
minority of total population
OPEC member countries
Environmental Problems
overpopulation - strain
on environment
air and water pollution
salinization
NORTH AFRICA
arid,
harsh environment
population restricted
to coastal areas (why?)
50 % urban
emigration employment
colonial influences on farming, trade
NILE RIVER VALLEY
Nile River
Interactive Map of Egypt: Journey Down the Nile River (Outstanding!)
Nile Waters Agreement and Cold War Politics
U.S. foreign aid
Suez
Canal (why was/is it important to world powers?)
Population dynamics: concentration on Nile = over 90%
Fritz
the camel at Giza
Egypt Population Map |
Egypt Land Use |
ARAB SOUTHWEST ASIA
Heart of Arab world (Arabian Peninsula, Fertile Crescent)
Strategic importance: location, oil, holy war against Israel
Oil Wealth
Infrastructure projects, increase military strength
Oil-yes, Water-no: S Arabia, Gulf states
Oil-yes, water-yes: Iraq, Syria
Countries that need donations from better-off nations: Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria, Yemen
Population and People
Population clusters along coast, rivers
Rapid population growth rate (Arab)
Large proportion of young (see population pyramids for region)
Foreign worker migration equals 30% pop. in S. Arabia, Gulf states
Population also includes refugees from Iraq, Lebanon, Israel
70% urban (why?)
Economic Activity
reliance on skilled immigrant oil workers (although many of these returned
home
because of the Gulf War)
low intensity farming, nomadic herding
trying to develop diversified economy (the "don't put all your eggs in
one basket" rule;
oil refineries, petrochemicals, food processing,
investing abroad)
difficulty unifying, even concerning mutual economic interests
ISRAEL, GAZA, AND THE WEST BANK
Population Distribution and Population Dynamics
Ethnic Differences
Diversified, High-Tech Economy
Diversifying Trade Links
Poverty in Gaza and West Bank
40 % Palestinian pop. in refugee
camps
50% unemployment
Israelis in Gaza, West Bank have separate roads, economic support
inequity in water use, availability for Palestinians
(75% water goes to Israelis and for low price)
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
British Mandate |
1949 |
pre-1967 |
post-war 1967 |
Israeli Border with Lebanon 1982 |
... |
The Palestinian Question
Palestinian homeland
Palestinian
refugees
citizenship
expansion of
Jewish settlements in Jerusalem and West
Bank
Har Homa (Abu Ghnaim) settlement has fostered much animosity with
Palestinians. Israel
eventually plans to locate up to 60,000 settlers here.
Peace Talks
14% of territory
in the West Bank
is to be returned to Palestinian control
increased security,
prevention of acts of terrorism
Jerusalem, Sacred City
Dome of the Rock
Jerusalem, considered
to be capital by both Israelis and Palestinians,
sacred place to 3 world religions
TURKEY AND IRAN
Map
of Turkey
Turkey
population density map
Turkey, Where East Meets West
More modernized,
westernized than Iran
wealth spread
more evenly
Secular state
- trying to avoid becoming "too Islamic"
both agriculture
and industry (35% arable land)
Ankara, Turkey
Oil and Upheaval in Iran
Map
of Iran
Iran
population density map
higher population growth than Turkey
Persian descent
(like the Turks, also not Arab)
predominantly
Shi'ite Muslim
approx. 60 %
urban
agriculture:
little arable land, not as developed
industrial development:
western-style development under Shah
However, under
Ayatollah Khomeni: fundamentalist-style Islam, isolation
effects of war with
Iraq (1980-1990)
strategic importance:
oil, choke point (Strait of Hormuz), reputed funding of anti-west
activities (though that appears to be changing)
IRAQ
Map
of Iraq
Saddam Hussein |
Kuwait oil fire during Gulf War |
land of ancient
empires (i.e., Mesopotamia)
70%
urbanization
Kurdish situation
in north
60 percent Shi'ite
Muslim in south
major oil reserves
strategic location
at northern end of Persian Gulf
large areas of irrigated
farmlands
10 year war
with Iran (1980-1990)
Iraq invasion
of Kuwait in 1990
Gulf
War , January 16, 1991- March 3, 1991; permanent cease fire April
6, 1991
Martyr's
Monument in Baghdad
Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq
FUTURE PROSPECTS
Continuing Tensions
Cold War Impacts
Gulf War Impacts
Trends in the Postwar 1990s
Oil, Water, and Environmental Issues
