Mesopotamia, “the land between the rivers” an ancient region between the Tigris and Euphrates River that was home to numerous early civilizations ( Hittites and Persians). The fertile soil made raising crop easy and the rivers served as highways Many ethnic groups- Turks, Kurds, Persians and Assyrian. They speak Turkish and Farsi which is different that the Arabic spoken in the rest of the region. All the different ethnic groups are Muslim but divides into – Sunni and Shiite -83% of all Muslims are Sunni - Most Iranain’s are Shiite

Clashes over Land The Kurds- a cultural group are a stateless nation. They were promised a homeland after WWI but never received it. Clashes between the Kurds and Iran, Iraq, AND Turkey Iran home of refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq- largest refugee pop. In all of the world Oil – Access/control to the oil rich regions on the Persian Gulf has caused war between Iran/Iraq and Iraq/Kuwait

CFU?? How have oil resources fueled clashes over land?

Turkey

Turkey and Iran are making progress towards modernization Turkey –ideal for trade (Why?) It is developing its water resources, agricultural products. It wants to join the EU but as been rejected because of its poor human rights record and fights with Greece over territory History of Turkey- In 1923 revolutionaries overthrew the sultan and declared Turkey republic. The president of the new republic, Kemal set about making Turkey a modern country. HE broke the bond between Islam and the government. Religious leaders were no longer involved in running the government. Today – citizens participate in the country’s parliamentary gov- one of the few freely elected governments in the region

Iran

Iran – Gov vacillates between change and no change. Oil money fuels most projects. War has severely harmed its economy History of Iran- descendants of persia- Perisans- dominant cultural group Ayatollahs, religious leaders thought Iran should be governed in strict obedience to Islamic law and ruled until 1989.

Iraq

Iraq- Fortunate location- well watered plain between the Tigris and Euphrates and large quantities of oil History- Under the leadership of Suddam Hussein fought a 10 yr war with Iran- drained both sides and left Iraq in debt declared Kuwait a part of Iraq- US attacked and liberated Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War. Embargo (trade restrictions) from UN to stop Hussein from continuing his chemical and nuclear weapons 2003 also known as the Iraq War, Mar.–Apr., 2003, was a largely U.S.-British invasion of Iraq. In many ways the final, delayed campaign of the First Persian Gulf War, it arose in part because the Iraqi government failed to cooperate fully with UN weapons inspections in the years following the first conflict. Hussein was captured, found guilty of crimes against humanity and hanged.

ISIS or ISIL (Islamic State Iraq (& Syria) Jihadist Rebel Group (Islamic Extremists) that controls territory in Iraq and Syria Designated at terrorist group by UN. Over 60 countries are directly/indirectly waging war against them Originated from Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), grew during Iraq Insurgence, entered Syrian Civil War in Sunni- majority areas Know for social media propaganda, systematic kidnappings and beheadings of civilians Named themselves a Worldwide Caliphate, claiming authority of all Muslims worldwide

Afghanistan

Afghanistan- one of the poorest nations- subsistence agriculture,massive civil war and gov. not willing to modernize Became a buffer state- a country separating opposing powers. In 1979 Soviet troops marched into Afghanistan to put down revolt at the request of the Afghan Gov. Millions of Afghans fled the country to Pakistan. The US helped arm and train Afghan resistant fighters who attacked soviet forces. By the mid 1990’s the Taliban – a fundamentalist Muslim political group controlled the gov- imposed strict rules to stop modernization and keep the traditional way of life. After 9-11 attacks forced the Taliban to retreat. In Nov members of several ethnic groups met to outline a new national gov.

Exit ticket? What impact do political problems have on economic progress? Think about: the economies of Turkey and Iran Think about: the economies of Iraq and Afghanistan