SOUTHWEST ASIA PERSIAN GULF AND THE INTERIOR

ANCIENT HISTORY Cultural Hearths Cultural Hearths Centers of ideas, innovations and ideologies that change regions and realms Centers of ideas, innovations and ideologies that change regions and realms Home of first Cultural Hearth Home of first Cultural Hearth Mesopotamia Mesopotamia Between Tigris and Euphrates River Between Tigris and Euphrates River Farmers used irrigation and food storage Farmers used irrigation and food storage Domesticated cereal, vegetables, fruits, animals Domesticated cereal, vegetables, fruits, animals Developed calendar, math, astronomy, government and engineering Developed calendar, math, astronomy, government and engineering Empirically controlled Empirically controlled Been controlled by many empires including Sumerian, Persia, Mongols, Romans, Ottoman Turks Been controlled by many empires including Sumerian, Persia, Mongols, Romans, Ottoman Turks

HISTORY cont. Ottoman Turk Impact Ottoman Turk Impact Ruled from 1453 until after WWI Ruled from 1453 until after WWI After WWI divided region into Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen controlled by British and French After WWI divided region into Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen controlled by British and French Didn’t adequately define border so when colonies gained independence, created problems Didn’t adequately define border so when colonies gained independence, created problems Oil Oil Most important resource for outside world Most important resource for outside world Within the realm, water and land most important Within the realm, water and land most important About 65% of known reserves in world located here About 65% of known reserves in world located here

Impact of Oil American Influence on realm American Influence on realm High Economics: most countries upper-middle class High Economics: most countries upper-middle class Modernization: brings money and business to pay for modernization Modernization: brings money and business to pay for modernization Industrialization: some use oil money to build lasting industries Industrialization: some use oil money to build lasting industries Intra-realm migration: Shiites and Palestinians move into Arabia Intra-realm migration: Shiites and Palestinians move into Arabia Saudi Arabia has 5 million foreigners in population of 23 million Saudi Arabia has 5 million foreigners in population of 23 million Disparities between oil rich and oil poor countries Disparities between oil rich and oil poor countries Foreign investment Foreign investment

IRAQ Size of California with 65% of total land and 42% of regions wealth Size of California with 65% of total land and 42% of regions wealth Major oil reserves and large areas of irrigated farmland Major oil reserves and large areas of irrigated farmland Site of Mesopotamia Site of Mesopotamia Modern Iraq Modern Iraq Adversarial with neighbors Adversarial with neighbors Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria 3 regions 3 regions Core: around Baghdad, heart of country Core: around Baghdad, heart of country South: around Basra, major oil fields, invasion of Kuwait in 1990 South: around Basra, major oil fields, invasion of Kuwait in 1990 North: Land of Kurds and Sunni, but not Arab Sunni’s North: Land of Kurds and Sunni, but not Arab Sunni’s Kurds want own country Kurds want own country Treated poorly under Suddam Treated poorly under Suddam

Arabian Peninsula Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Mostly desert with huge oil reserves Mostly desert with huge oil reserves 22.9 million population with monarchy 22.9 million population with monarchy Created in 1920’s and stabilized now friendly to west Created in 1920’s and stabilized now friendly to west Currently trying to update social programs Currently trying to update social programs Economy entirely dependent upon oil Economy entirely dependent upon oil Periphery Periphery Kuwait: can cut Iraq off from Persian Gulf Kuwait: can cut Iraq off from Persian Gulf Bahrain: island with dwindling oil supply Bahrain: island with dwindling oil supply Qatar: declining oil but increasing natural gas Qatar: declining oil but increasing natural gas UAE (United Arab Emirates) unique government UAE (United Arab Emirates) unique government Oman: absolute monarchy that controls choke point of Hormuz Strait Oman: absolute monarchy that controls choke point of Hormuz Strait Yemen: united in 1990’s and created democracy, only one in region Yemen: united in 1990’s and created democracy, only one in region

IRAN Formerly Persian Empire that ruled for 2500 years Formerly Persian Empire that ruled for 2500 years Controls area between Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf Controls area between Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf 69.4 million population with 63% urban 69.4 million population with 63% urban Struggle between modernity and traditional Islamic rulers Struggle between modernity and traditional Islamic rulers Revolution in 1979 that put in Ayatollah Khomeini Revolution in 1979 that put in Ayatollah Khomeini fought war with Iraq that left Iran very weak fought war with Iraq that left Iran very weak Late 1990’s saw desire to liberalize, but put down by government Late 1990’s saw desire to liberalize, but put down by government Current US policies becoming a question Current US policies becoming a question

MODERN ISSUES Economically dependent on oil Economically dependent on oil OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Food importers Food importers Growing cities Growing cities Capital of Islamic world Capital of Islamic world What to do with Iraq? What to do with Iraq?

EASTERN MEDITERREANEAN

ISRAEL Creation Creation Created in 1948 as Jewish homeland with UN support with idea of “Zionism” Created in 1948 as Jewish homeland with UN support with idea of “Zionism” May 14, 1948 created Israel with Arabic neighbors immediately attacking May 14, 1948 created Israel with Arabic neighbors immediately attacking At end of war, Israel controlled 80% of what had been Palestine At end of war, Israel controlled 80% of what had been Palestine Wars Wars 1967 week long war where Israel gains Golan Heights, West Bank and Sinai Peninsula 1967 week long war where Israel gains Golan Heights, West Bank and Sinai Peninsula 1973 war forces withdraw from Suez Canal 1973 war forces withdraw from Suez Canal 1978 Israel gives all of Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt 1978 Israel gives all of Sinai Peninsula back to Egypt

MAJOR ISSUES: MODERN ISRAEL Golan Heights Golan Heights Syria wants it back but Israel wants to keep it Syria wants it back but Israel wants to keep it West Bank West Bank Originally set as Palestinian Homeland but Jewish migration now makes it difficult Originally set as Palestinian Homeland but Jewish migration now makes it difficult ,000 Jews in West Bank ,000 Jews in West Bank ,000 Jews in West Bank ,000 Jews in West Bank Palestinians Palestinians Nation without a state Nation without a state Many live in Jordan but still large percentage living in Israel Many live in Jordan but still large percentage living in Israel

JERUSALEM Major issue in Middle East Major issue in Middle East Suppose to be international city, but captured by Israel in 1967 Suppose to be international city, but captured by Israel in 1967 Now considered capital of Israel Now considered capital of Israel History History Moses leads Jews into Philistine land and created Jerusalem where lived 40 centuries Moses leads Jews into Philistine land and created Jerusalem where lived 40 centuries After King Solomon, kingdom divided and conquered After King Solomon, kingdom divided and conquered AD 70 Rome destroys 2 nd temple leaving only part of West Wall AD 70 Rome destroys 2 nd temple leaving only part of West Wall Under Rome: became focus for Christians Under Rome: became focus for Christians 700 AD Muslims move into Jerusalem 700 AD Muslims move into Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, cont. Holy Site for 3 major religions Holy Site for 3 major religions Western Wall: Jewish Western Wall: Jewish Church of Holy Sepulcher: Christians, place where Jesus buried Church of Holy Sepulcher: Christians, place where Jesus buried Dome of the Rock: Muhammad's ascension to heaven on Temple Mount Dome of the Rock: Muhammad's ascension to heaven on Temple Mount Modern Issues Modern Issues captures only part of Jerusalem captures only part of Jerusalem Tel Aviv suppose to be capital of Israel Tel Aviv suppose to be capital of Israel Jerusalem divided into 2 sections: Old and New Jerusalem divided into 2 sections: Old and New

MODERN ISSUES, cont. Jerusalem Jerusalem 1967 Israel conquered West Bank and reunited Jerusalem with West mostly Jewish and East mostly Arabic 1967 Israel conquered West Bank and reunited Jerusalem with West mostly Jewish and East mostly Arabic 1980 called foreign nations to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but most didn’t and Israel began huge resettlement attempt 1980 called foreign nations to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but most didn’t and Israel began huge resettlement attempt 1990’s UN tells Israel to stop construction and settlement, but Israel not listening 1990’s UN tells Israel to stop construction and settlement, but Israel not listening Modern Issues Modern Issues One of wealthiest nations in region One of wealthiest nations in region 90% of population urban 90% of population urban Water issues: 30 % of useable water under West Bank but Israel uses 4X as much water as Palestinians Water issues: 30 % of useable water under West Bank but Israel uses 4X as much water as Palestinians Finding peace biggest issue and problem Finding peace biggest issue and problem

West Wall

Dome of the Rock

OTHER NATIONS IN REGION Syria Syria Shares border with Israel Shares border with Israel Lost Golan Heights in 1967; military republic since 1963 Lost Golan Heights in 1967; military republic since % Sunni, but ruled by Alawites who suppress all dissension 75% Sunni, but ruled by Alawites who suppress all dissension On Mediterranean Coast so can grow crops creating come self- sufficiency On Mediterranean Coast so can grow crops creating come self- sufficiency Damascus: believed to be longest lived in city in world Damascus: believed to be longest lived in city in world Needs Modernization Needs Modernization Jordan Jordan East of Israel and depends upon Lebanon for Port Access East of Israel and depends upon Lebanon for Port Access 1946 population 400,000 with 1 million Palestinians refugees coming in population 400,000 with 1 million Palestinians refugees coming in 1948 Received lots of aide, but hasn’t really helped Received lots of aide, but hasn’t really helped

Other Nations, cont. Lebanon Lebanon 25 % population is Christian creating Civil War 25 % population is Christian creating Civil War 1975 civil war after Muslim population grows and Christian doesn’t 1975 civil war after Muslim population grows and Christian doesn’t Beirut destroyed and only 150,000 still lived there out of 1.5 million; now being rebuilt Beirut destroyed and only 150,000 still lived there out of 1.5 million; now being rebuilt Turkey Turkey Influenced by Chinese, Mongols, Russians, Byzantium and Islam Influenced by Chinese, Mongols, Russians, Byzantium and Islam Modern Turkey is remnants of Ottoman Turkish Empire Modern Turkey is remnants of Ottoman Turkish Empire Modern Problems Modern Problems 20 % of population Kurdish creating human rights violations 20 % of population Kurdish creating human rights violations Islamic Fundamentalism gaining some support and strength Islamic Fundamentalism gaining some support and strength Cultural conflict between Alevis Islam and Sunni Islam Cultural conflict between Alevis Islam and Sunni Islam Wants EU membership but not likely Wants EU membership but not likely Controls Bosporus and Dardanelles Controls Bosporus and Dardanelles