UNDERSTANDING THE MIDDLE EAST

Some highlights include: Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals is the best sector in terms of salary, benefits, work-life balance, career growth, and talent retention. Banking and Finance comes in next in many countries in terms of salary, work-life balance, career growth, and talent retention, although many vote Government and Civil Service as high for talent recruitment. Residents of almost every country in the Arab World voted either Government/ Civil Service or Banking and Finance as the most favorable industries for fresh college graduates, except for Tunisia, which voted Education and Academia #1.  IT was frequently cited as a good sector for hiring local talent and retaining talent, and also ranked as a sector that many employed professionals were switching into. Construction ranks highly as an attractive sector for expatriates.  Education is overwhelmingly the sector of choice for women, with Government and Civil Service the next preferred option. Overwhelmingly, the majority of employees still see the government as a favorable employer.

Historical Overview

About 1 000 BC

Interlude Solomon’s Israelite kingdom dissolved around 970 BC into the northern Israel and southern Judah. Israel is finally conquered by the Assyrians in 723- 722 BC and all inhabitants deported. Judah lingers on until around 600 BC when many of its people are deported to Babylon. The Exile has begun.

Persia under Cyrus conquers Babylon around 540 BC. The exiled Jews are allowed to return to their land. Many but not all do. It is at this point that we can start speaking of “Jews” rather than Israelites. Their faith becomes more codified; study of the Law becomes the way to progress spiritually. There is a fair amount of religious freedom under the Persians.

The Greek Empire Around 333 BC Alexander the Great expands the Greek world and takes over vast areas formerly under Persian control. 2. Alexander soon dies and the empire is divided into three sub-sections.

Around 165 BC a Greek ruler tries to force all Jews to adopt Greek ways and stop their “backward” religion. A rebellion follows, The Maccabean Uprising, that restores some autonomy to the Jews in Judea. Just before the time of Jesus, the Roman Empire takes over the territory around Palestine. Jesus is born into this empire. The early Church starts here in about 30 AD. And spreads in all directions.

In 70 AD a Jewish rebellion against Rome leads to the destruction of Jerusalem and dispersal of Jews yet again. A further rebellion around 132 AD leaves only a handful of Jews in Palestine.

In the early 300’s AD the Roman Emperor Constantine Declares that Christianity is the official religion of the empire. Soon after most of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East is already Christian. By 500 AD two empires dominate the scene: the new eastern (Christian) empire Byzantium and the Persian empire.

Most of the eastern Mediterranean and central Middle East is now Christian or still pagan. In the early 600’s a new faith arises in Arabia: Islam. It spreads very fast and takes over the Middle East and beyond by the late 600’s. Christians and Jews are left to practice their faiths, but with some restrictions on them. Only the top layers of society are at first converted. Many educated Christians act as high officials in Muslim society.