“Cradle of Civilization” & “The Arab World”

“Cradle of Civilization” Fertile Crescent region (between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers)

“Cradle of Civilization” First written records of societies Sumerian Cuneiform Many empires Hammurabi’s code – “Eye for an eye” – Social inequalities

“The Arab World”

Population Majority of people live near water Dominant ethnic group = Arabs

Desert Bedouins

Cairo, Egypt: Most Populated City in the Middle East 17,000,000+ People!

Ethnic Variety

Iran, Qatar, Israel, Kuwait

Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia

Culture & Society Family & Kinship! Gender – Males inhabit public space – Females inhabit private space – The veil & hijab (Urban areas are more strict. The hijab conveys subordination to men, work in the home & restricted access to public space. Oil states are more strict.)

Women Country Seclusion accepted by some Government- mandated dress code Attacks on “immodest” women Req. male permission to travel/passport MoroccoXX TunisiaX AlgeriaXX Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon X IranXXXX Saudi ArabiaXXXX Oman, Yemen, U.A.E., Qatar XX BahrainX KuwaitXX

Some Westernization