The Middle East

The Middle East Today: Political Map > 4--> > 11--> 9 < >

Middle East? OR Near East? OR Southwest Asia? OR….?

What is the “Middle East”? The Middle East is not a separate continent, but geographically is the area in which Africa, Asia, and Europe interconnect The Middle East is not a separate continent, but geographically is the area in which Africa, Asia, and Europe interconnect There are no natural borders that delineate the boundaries of the Middle East. There are no natural borders that delineate the boundaries of the Middle East. Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Turkey, North Africa are disputed parts of the region. Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Turkey, North Africa are disputed parts of the region.

What is the “Middle East”? In fact the boundaries of the Middle East are political, and they keep shifting overtime. In fact the boundaries of the Middle East are political, and they keep shifting overtime. Islam is the common thread that join Middle Eastern Country together Islam is the common thread that join Middle Eastern Country together

Ancient Middle East ial-history.html ial-history.html ial-history.html ial-history.html

Kingdom of Israel in Ancient Middle East

Ancient Middle East

Middle East During Roman Empire

Post-Rome & Beginnings of Islam

Middle East - Muslim Empires

Ottoman Empire c Multiethnic, multireligious state ruled under Islamic laws Multiethnic, multireligious state ruled under Islamic laws Ruled by sultan Ruled by sultan By 1800, power beginning to weaken By 1800, power beginning to weaken Threat from powerful, industrialized European nation-states & imperialism Threat from powerful, industrialized European nation-states & imperialism

Middle East & European Imperialism France  Algeria in 1830, Tunisia in 1881 France  Algeria in 1830, Tunisia in 1881 British took Aden (Yemen) in 1836, Egypt in 1882 British took Aden (Yemen) in 1836, Egypt in 1882 Italy  Libya in 1911 Italy  Libya in 1911 Russia also gained influence Russia also gained influence

Middle East – Pre-WWI

Sykes-Picot Agreement Ottoman Empire joined Central Powers Ottoman Empire joined Central Powers Other Arab states joined with British who promised them independence after war… Other Arab states joined with British who promised them independence after war…BUT France & Britain had secret Sykes-Picot Agreement which divided the territory among themselves!!!! France & Britain had secret Sykes-Picot Agreement which divided the territory among themselves!!!! Plus the Balfour Declaration (would support nation for Jewish people in Palestine) Plus the Balfour Declaration (would support nation for Jewish people in Palestine) = Distrust in the West

Middle East – Post WWI Mandate System Mandate System – Mandates = semi-colonial territories – Set up by League of Nations Hopes for nation-states crushed Hopes for nation-states crushed – Kurds (ethnic group) promised settlement, instead were divided among Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq

Middle East in the 20 th C.

SOME COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE: ISRAEL SAUDI ARABIA TURKEY IRAN KUWAIT QATAR AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) IRAQ AFGHANISTAN

Development of Middle East Very different across the Middle East Very different across the Middle East – Islam & politics? Modernization? Relationship with West? Three types of regimes in Islamic states Three types of regimes in Islamic states – Muslim States = Muslim majority, secular gov’t (Turkey) – Islamic States = Muslim majority, principles of Islam used for guidance (Egypt, Indonesia) – Islamist States = Depend on Islamic or Shari’a law for governance (Iran, Saudi Arabia)

Middle East Nationalism Rapid economic change due to oil resources – – Demand for oil among industrialized countries Arab Revolt of – – Led to partitioning of Ottoman Empire Rise of nationalism around the Middle East – – By 1936, Iraq, Trans- Jordan, Lebanon, & Syria were independent – – Only Palestine was not autonomous

Modernization in Turkey 1922 – Turkish nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal overthrew last Ottoman emperor Established Republic of Turkey (1 st republic in Middle East) – – Kemal as 1 st president of Turkey = Atatürk (“Father of the Turks”) Modernization – – Broke connection between Islam and state Separated Islamic laws from national laws Replaced Islamic courts with secular courts – – Gave women legal & political rights (suffrage, no veil) – – Western style of dress – – EDUCATION!!! – Secular public schools Alphabet changed from Arabic to Latin

Modernization in Iran 1921 – Reza Khan, army officer, seized power – – Military dictatorship Became ruling shah in 1925, renamed Persia as Iran (Reza Shah Pahlavi) Westernization not as successful as in Turkey – – Broke w/Islamic traditions – – Built roads & railroads, encouraged industrialization – – Women given more rights Iran occupied by British & Soviet troops in WWII (Iran’s pro-German policies) – – Conflict w/U.S. & West over shah’s right to throne – extended West’s influence – – 1979 Islamic revolution by religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew shah – – Iranian hostage crisis in Tehran in 1979 – released 444 days later

Egypt & Arab Nationalism Controlled by British since 1882 (although under Ottoman Empire…) Arab nationalism opposed British control/influence 1952 – Gamal Abd al-Nasser led coup and was named president of Egypt Suez Crisis in 1956 Brief union w/Syria as United Arab Republic Attacks on Israel Replaced by Anwar Sadat & then Hosni Mubarak

Palestine Lesson for another day… Lesson for another day… Has some self- determination but still strives for nation- statehood Has some self- determination but still strives for nation- statehood 2010

Saudi Arabia While Turkey and Iran broke with many Islamic traditions, Saudi Arabia held strictly to Islamic law. The harsh desert land was home to a group of nomads known as Bedouins. They lived in large family groups, each led by a shaykh (sheikh) = means “elder”. In 1902, a shaykh named Abd al-Aziz Obn Saud, set out to extend his power. In 1926 he proclaimed himself king of the nation of Saudi Arabia. Still an absolute monarchy. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Iraq After fall of Ottomans… British mandate, created gov’t, renamed Iraq British mandate, created gov’t, renamed Iraq Attacks on Israel, Iran, Kuwait Attacks on Israel, Iran, Kuwait Ethnic oppression & genocide under Saddam Hussein Ethnic oppression & genocide under Saddam Hussein

Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Chronic instability & conflict Chronic instability & conflict “Great Game” = Russia & Britain’s Empire vied for control “Great Game” = Russia & Britain’s Empire vied for control Communist government for a period of time (controlled by Soviets) Communist government for a period of time (controlled by Soviets) Withdrawal of Soviets led to civil war Withdrawal of Soviets led to civil war Rise of Taliban (from largest ethnic group, the Pashtuns) Rise of Taliban (from largest ethnic group, the Pashtuns) – Controlled Afghanistan until ousted in 2001 President Hamid Karzai President Hamid Karzai

Middle East: Population Density

The Natural Resources of the Middle East

World Oil Reserves

Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil Kuwait City

Leading U. S. Oil Suppliers The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.

Issues Facing Middle East Ethnic & religious conflicts Ethnic & religious conflicts Religion v. modernization v. politics Religion v. modernization v. politics Arab-Israeli conflict over statehood/territory Arab-Israeli conflict over statehood/territory Economics Economics Arab spring/political instability Arab spring/political instability