Preview of the Middle East Mapping Video

Label Iran

Label Iraq

Label Syria

Label Turkey

Label Afghanistan

Label Saudi Arabia

Label Israel

Label Euphrates and Tigris

Label the Persian Gulf

Label Suez Canal

Environmental Issues: Where is all the water? Water shortage is a major problem in the Middle East. Open sewers, failed septic tank systems, fertilizers, and pesticides are contaminating Afghanistan’s water. Water is continually causing conflict in the Middle East. Syria and Iraq came close to war over water issues!

Life in the Middle East Mostly arid with hot, dry summers and cool winters Oil brings in jobs and money. Iran and Iraq are the most populated countries of the Middle East, but they suffer from war and mismanagement of oil money. Because of oil, more than 95% of the population live near cities in Saudi Arabia.

Ethnic Groups The majority of the people in the Middle East are Arabs. Another ethnic group are the Persians who live in Iran and speak Farsi. A third ethnic group is the Kurds who live in the mountains of several Middle Eastern countries.

Cultures- Religions Judaism- a monotheistic religion of the Jews based on the Torah and the Talmud Islam- Muslim religion teaching that there is only one God and that Muhammad is his prophet. Christianity- a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and teaching of Jesus Christ

Literacy Rate Think back: What is literacy rate? The literacy rate in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey range from 63% to 87%. Wars in Iraq over the past two decades have hurt education and economy. Iraq’s literacy rate is 74%.

Conflicts in the Middle East Land and religion are continuing problems in the Middle East. There is animosity between Arabs and Jews and among different Islamic sects. Muslim sects, Shia and Sunni battle for power in Iraq. Iraq and Iran fought an eight year war beginning in 1980 over disputed oil-rich territory.

Persian Gulf War The US has great interest in maintaining stability in the Middle East to safeguard the supply of oil and combat terrorism. Iraq (Suddam Hussein) invaded Kuwait in 1990 to control their oil fields and access to the Persian Gulf. In 1991, American aircraft pounded Iraq with missile attacks while ground forces forced Iraq out of Kuwait. Gulf War

War on Terror In Afghanistan, an extreme religious sect known as the Taliban was rising in power. They were thought to be sheltering the terrorist Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was responsible for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Documentary on the Osama bin Laden Raid