MiddleEastNotes

NORTH AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The region has often been called the "crossroads" of the world because of its critical location between several continents.

This region has about 10% of the world's land area and about 350 million people.

Some of the earliest civilizations began here.

· Deserts - Sahara is 3.5 million sq. miles (p.363) / Rubal Khali southern part of Saudi Arabia, etc.

· Mountains Atlas, Ahaggar, Elburz, Taurus, Zagros, etc.

· Peninsulas Arabian & Sinai

· Caspian Sea largest lake in the world

· Dead Sea the saltiest body of water in the world (9x saltier than the oceans)

· Major Rivers Nile, Tigris, Euphrates

Arabic historical/religious conflict between religions

European Colonization eventual independence

This region has about 60-70% of the entire world supply of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Reserves vs Production???

Before W.W. II they supplied less than 5% of the worlds oil/natural gas. Pages 360-361

The dominant religion in N.Africa / Middle East is Islam

Islam means submission to the will of God

If you believe in this religion:

1.Your God is Allah (only one God)

2.The prophet that spread the word of your religion was Muhammad

3.Your "holy book" is the Qur'an (Koran)

4.You are referred to as a Muslim

5.Your "holy city" is Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The Five Pillars of Islam:

The Creed: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah". Belief is in one God, Allah, his Angels, his messengers, his Books, and the hereafter in which evil is punished and good is rewarded.

Prayer - both a spiritual & physical exercise. Prayer is done five times a day, said facing the direction of Mecca, and a weekly prayer on Friday. Daily prayers are said while rising, at noon, mid-afternoon, after sunset and before retiring to bed. The weekly prayer is usually offered at mid-day in public worship in a mosque.

Fasting - during the ninth month of the Muslim year, Ramadan. Since the Muslim calendar is lunar, the 29-30 days of Ramadan fall due through all seasons of the solar year, eventually. Fasting can be a severe test when Ramadan falls during the summer, especially regarding thirst, because a Muslim must not take any food or drink from dawn until sunset. At night, this time is a great feast/festival. (There are certain exceptions to this - old people, sick, young children, etc.)

The Hajj - a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Every Muslim is expected to do this at least once in their lifetime - unless illness or poverty make this impossible. Muslims travel to Mecca from all parts of the world. Upon arriving, they put on a special dress of two seamless white sheets, which shows that all are equal in the eyes of Allah. Then they go to the great mosque to kiss the Black Stone in the eastern corner of the Ka'aba. They make seven trips around the Ka'aba (the first three running, the rest walking). .............On the ninth day of the hajj, the Muslims travel 12 miles to Mt. Arafat where continuous prayer is offered from noon to sunset.............

Almsgiving / Zakat - Muhammad believed that his followers should give to God and to the poor. Giving is based on income: a Muslim is expected to give about 2 1/2% of his yearly income. The Qur'an sets forth that this money is to be given to the poor, debtors or slaves wanting to but their freedom.

OTHER RULES WHICH MUSLIMS MUST FOLLOW:

· GAMBLING PROHIBITED

· ALLOWED UP TO FOUR WIVES PROVIDED THEY ARE TREATED WITH KINDNESS & STRICK

· POOR TREATMENT OF ORPHANS IS CONDEMNED

Chapter 18 Cultural Geography

North Africa & Southwest Asia

Population Patterns

A. Human characteristics

NA and SWA form the crossroads for AF, EUR, ASIA

a.the vast majority in the area

b.descendants of Canaanites, Babylonians, Egyptians

b.settled in the region believing that God had given them land for a permanent home

c.continuing wars drove many people away

d.religious beliefs stayed throughout conflicts

a.blend of many cultures

b.most practice Islam

4. Iranians and Afghanis

a.descendants of Aryans

b.practice form of Islam known as Shiism

c.Afghanistan, many ethnic groups established from invasions, migrations

b.once independent but now a divided nation of Greeks and Turks

6. Armenians and Kurds

a.both broke away from former Soviet Union

b.both fighting for independence and self rule

B. Population & Growth

1. most live near water

2. total population near 350 million and growing Turkey, Egypt, Iran more than 50 million

1. people come to the city looking for money / jobs

2. food, housing shortage

History and Government

Early People and Civilizations Settled along the river valleys / Mesopotamia - Irrigation canals, mathematics, cuneiform

Egyptians / Phoenicians / Persians

This region is the birthplace of three major religions Monotheism / Monotheistic Religions 1. Islam

Religious Wars Arabs / Jews

Up until 1940's Imperialism

After World War II Independence comes to this region

Western Development of OIL

Arab / Israeli Wars Who wins and who does the US support?

Arab Response Oil Embargo Formation of OPEC

US / World Impact ?????

Iran - 1950s - 1970s The US supports the "Shah" of Iran

1978 People protest against the Shah / he leaves the country and takes $$$$$

The Shah comes to the US "they" want him back

Ayatollah Khomeini takes over in Iran

Iran "students" take the US Embassy 11/4/1979 and all 50 Americans in it as

hostage . for 444 days

Also while Carter is President the Camp David Accords

M. Begin / Israel and A. Sadat / Egypt sign an agreement to stop fighting many were upset on both sides.

1979 Soviet Union invades Afghanistan

US Response by President Carter

Grain Embargo & Boycott the 1980 Olympics (the Soviets boycott the 1984

In 1980 Reagan defeats Carter for the Presidency / Iran releases the US hostages / RR lifts the Grain Embargo

TERRORISM PICKS UP AROUND THE WORLD !!!

· US Marines in Lebanon

· Hijacking of the Achille Lauro

· Libya / Line of Death

Chapter 19 - North Africa / SW Asia Today

Living in North Africa & SWA

a. only small portion of land suitable for crops

b. large portion of people work in agriculture

a. 330 million cattle, sheep

a. provides 2% of world's fish supply

b. Turkey, Morocco largest producers

B. Industrial Growth

a. produces 25% of world's supply but has 2/3 of the world reserves

a. Bahrain, service industry provides more than 60% of the GDP

b. Tourism popular in most parts

C. Transportation / Communication is Limited

1.best roads in Turkey, Iran, Egypt

2.mountains, deserts make it costly to build

3.railroads, airlines help to connect crossroads

4.Nile river / Suez canal main waterways

5.pipelines transport oil

6.telephones minimal television & radio are

7.developing but newspapers are the main source of communication

D. Interdependence with the rest of the world .

1.Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela formed OPEC to give them control of

the production and price of oil

People and the Environment

A. Water Resources

1. very limited in freshwater for drinking

2. the big 3 rivers supply Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Syria

3. "Great human-made river' carries water through pipeline

a.carries water from aquifers beneath Sahara to Med. coast

b.hoping in future to lengthen pipeline

4. Desalination occurs mainly in oil rich countries

B. Environmental Concerns

1.1950's Egypt built Aswan High Dam

a.to control Nile's floods

b.to improve irrigation

c.to supply electricity

d.to create artificial lake for fishing industry

e.had some negative effects

2.farmers had to buy expensive fertilizers

3.parasites that no longer could be washed away remained and caused death

and disease among livestock



	NORTH AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST AKS# 30-52 Chapter 17 RELATIVE LOCATION The region has often been called the "crossroads" of the world because of its critical location between several continents. This region has about 10% of the world's land area and about 350 million people. Some of the earliest civilizations began here. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: · Deserts - Sahara is 3.5 million sq. miles (p.363) / Rubal Khali southern part of Saudi Arabia, etc. · Mountains Atlas, Ahaggar, Elburz, Taurus, Zagros, etc. · Peninsulas Arabian & Sinai · Caspian Sea largest lake in the world · Dead Sea the saltiest body of water in the world (9x saltier than the oceans) · Major Rivers Nile, Tigris, Euphrates CULTURE: Arabic historical/religious conflict between religions Arabs vs Jews European Colonization eventual independence NATURAL RESOURCES This region has about 60-70% of the entire world supply of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Reserves vs Production??? Before W.W. II they supplied less than 5% of the worlds oil/natural gas. Pages 360-361 ISLAM The dominant religion in N.Africa / Middle East is Islam Islam means submission to the will of God If you believe in this religion: 1.Your God is Allah (only one God) 2.The prophet that spread the word of your religion was Muhammad 3.Your "holy book" is the Qur'an (Koran) 4.You are referred to as a Muslim 5.Your "holy city" is Mecca, Saudi Arabia The Five Pillars of Islam: The Creed: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah". Belief is in one God, Allah, his Angels, his messengers, his Books, and the hereafter in which evil is punished and good is rewarded. Prayer - both a spiritual & physical exercise. Prayer is done five times a day, said facing the direction of Mecca, and a weekly prayer on Friday. Daily prayers are said while rising, at noon, mid-afternoon, after sunset and before retiring to bed. The weekly prayer is usually offered at mid-day in public worship in a mosque. Fasting - during the ninth month of the Muslim year, Ramadan. Since the Muslim calendar is lunar, the 29-30 days of Ramadan fall due through all seasons of the solar year, eventually. Fasting can be a severe test when Ramadan falls during the summer, especially regarding thirst, because a Muslim must not take any food or drink from dawn until sunset. At night, this time is a great feast/festival. (There are certain exceptions to this - old people, sick, young children, etc.) The Hajj - a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Every Muslim is expected to do this at least once in their lifetime - unless illness or poverty make this impossible. Muslims travel to Mecca from all parts of the world. Upon arriving, they put on a special dress of two seamless white sheets, which shows that all are equal in the eyes of Allah. Then they go to the great mosque to kiss the Black Stone in the eastern corner of the Ka'aba. They make seven trips around the Ka'aba (the first three running, the rest walking). .............On the ninth day of the hajj, the Muslims travel 12 miles to Mt. Arafat where continuous prayer is offered from noon to sunset............. Almsgiving / Zakat - Muhammad believed that his followers should give to God and to the poor. Giving is based on income: a Muslim is expected to give about 2 1/2% of his yearly income. The Qur'an sets forth that this money is to be given to the poor, debtors or slaves wanting to but their freedom. OTHER RULES WHICH MUSLIMS MUST FOLLOW: · NO ALCOHOL · GAMBLING PROHIBITED · ALLOWED UP TO FOUR WIVES PROVIDED THEY ARE TREATED WITH KINDNESS & STRICK IMPARTIALITY · POOR TREATMENT OF ORPHANS IS CONDEMNED Chapter 18 Cultural Geography North Africa & Southwest Asia Population Patterns A. Human characteristics NA and SWA form the crossroads for AF, EUR, ASIA 1. Arabs a.the vast majority in the area b.descendants of Canaanites, Babylonians, Egyptians c.most are Muslim 2. Israelis a.most are Jewish b.settled in the region believing that God had given them land for a permanent home c.continuing wars drove many people away d.religious beliefs stayed throughout conflicts 3. Turks a.blend of many cultures b.most practice Islam 4. Iranians and Afghanis a.descendants of Aryans b.practice form of Islam known as Shiism c.Afghanistan, many ethnic groups established from invasions, migrations 5. Cypriots a.island of Cyprus b.once independent but now a divided nation of Greeks and Turks 6. Armenians and Kurds a.both broke away from former Soviet Union b.both fighting for independence and self rule B. Population & Growth 1. most live near water 2. total population near 350 million and growing Turkey, Egypt, Iran more than 50 million C. Urbanization 1. people come to the city looking for money / jobs 2. food, housing shortage History and Government Early People and Civilizations Settled along the river valleys / Mesopotamia - Irrigation canals, mathematics, cuneiform Egyptians / Phoenicians / Persians This region is the birthplace of three major religions Monotheism / Monotheistic Religions 1. Islam 2. Christianity 3. Judaism Religious Wars Arabs / Jews CURRENT HISTORY Up until 1940's Imperialism After World War II Independence comes to this region Western Development of OIL Arab / Israeli Wars Who wins and who does the US support? Arab Response Oil Embargo Formation of OPEC US / World Impact ????? Iran - 1950s - 1970s The US supports the "Shah" of Iran 1978 People protest against the Shah / he leaves the country and takes $$$$$ The Shah comes to the US "they" want him back Ayatollah Khomeini takes over in Iran Iran "students" take the US Embassy 11/4/1979 and all 50 Americans in it as hostage . for 444 days Also while Carter is President the Camp David Accords M. Begin / Israel and A. Sadat / Egypt sign an agreement to stop fighting many were upset on both sides. 1979 Soviet Union invades Afghanistan US Response by President Carter Grain Embargo & Boycott the 1980 Olympics (the Soviets boycott the 1984 Olympics in LA) In 1980 Reagan defeats Carter for the Presidency / Iran releases the US hostages / RR lifts the Grain Embargo TERRORISM PICKS UP AROUND THE WORLD !!! · US Marines in Lebanon · Hijacking of the Achille Lauro · Libya / Line of Death Chapter 19 - North Africa / SW Asia Today Living in North Africa & SWA A. Food needs 1. Agriculture a. only small portion of land suitable for crops b. large portion of people work in agriculture 2. Livestock a. 330 million cattle, sheep 3. Fishing a. provides 2% of world's fish supply b. Turkey, Morocco largest producers B. Industrial Growth 1. Petroleum a. produces 25% of world's supply but has 2/3 of the world reserves 2. Service Industry a. Bahrain, service industry provides more than 60% of the GDP b. Tourism popular in most parts C. Transportation / Communication is Limited 1.best roads in Turkey, Iran, Egypt 2.mountains, deserts make it costly to build 3.railroads, airlines help to connect crossroads 4.Nile river / Suez canal main waterways 5.pipelines transport oil 6.telephones minimal television & radio are 7.developing but newspapers are the main source of communication D. Interdependence with the rest of the world . 1.Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela formed OPEC to give them control of the production and price of oil People and the Environment A. Water Resources 1. very limited in freshwater for drinking 2. the big 3 rivers supply Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Syria 3. "Great human-made river' carries water through pipeline a.carries water from aquifers beneath Sahara to Med. coast b.hoping in future to lengthen pipeline 4. Desalination occurs mainly in oil rich countries B. Environmental Concerns 1.1950's Egypt built Aswan High Dam a.to control Nile's floods b.to improve irrigation c.to supply electricity d.to create artificial lake for fishing industry e.had some negative effects 1.silt trapped 2.farmers had to buy expensive fertilizers 3.parasites that no longer could be washed away remained and caused death and disease among livestock