Economies of the ME & NA Introduction

Why the Middle East?

Geography The Middle or Near East: Arab countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Non-Arab countries: Cyprus, Iran, Israel, Turkey

Geography North Africa: Arab countries: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia

Geography Regions: Arabian Peninsula Iranian Plateau Anatolian Plateau Fertile Crescent & Mesopotamia

Geography Waters: Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf Read Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea Nile River, Jordan River, Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

History 5500 B.C. to 2004 A.D. Sumerian & Akkadian Babylonian & Neo-Babylonian Persian, Greek & Roman Arabian & Mongolian Saavid & Ottoman Independent nation states

Regional Characteristics The Crossroad The world’s island The tri-continental hub of Asia, Africa, and Europe The Silk Road

Regional Characteristics The Cradle of Civilization Beginning of human civilization with major development in agriculture, science, literature, and urbanization

Regional Characteristics The Birthplace Judaism (5700+ years) Mithraism & Zoroastrianism (5000 & 3500 years) Christianity (2000+ years) Islam (1400+ years) The Bahai Faith (100 years)

Regional Characteristics The Arc of Crisis Military conflict from the pre-historic to the present time

Regional Characteristics Large Population Over 300 million people living in 22 countries and millions of immigrants living outside the region

Rich Natural Resources Over 60% of the world’s oil reserves About 50% of the world’s oil supply Reserves of natural gas, copper, iron ore, zinc, lead, etc.

Regional Characteristics Trade & Commerce Exporting natural resources and human resources Importing capital and consumer goods and military equipment & services

Regional Similarities Common History The Persian Empire The Arab Empire The Ottoman Empire

Regional Similarities Common Culture Language: Arabic, Farsi, Turkish Religion: Islam, Christianity, Judaism

Regional Similarities Third World Nations Economic problems: poverty, income inequality, dependence on exports Social problems: gender and ethnic discrimination, inefficient governments

Regional Similarities Military Conflict Arab-Israeli conflict (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, on-going) Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) Persian Gulf War (1991) Iraq Invasion (2003-present)

Regional Differences Country Size in Area Large: Sudan, Saudi Arabia Small: Lebanon, Kuwait

Regional Differences Population Large: Egypt, Iran, Turkey Small: Qatar, Kuwait, UAE Medium: Algeria, Morocco, Iraq

Regional Differences Urbanization Rural: Sudan, Yemen, Libya Urban: Kuwait, UAE, Qatar

Regional Differences Economic Size Affluent: UAE, Saudi Arabia Less fortunate: Sudan, Yemen

Regional Differences Government Democratic & Non-secular: Tunisia, Turkey Autocratic & Secular: Saudi Arabia, Iran