“Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday appointed Dennis Ross a seasoned Middle East negotiator under Republican and Democratic presidents, as her special adviser for the gulf and Southwest Asia, a portfolio that will include Iran.”

Conflicts 1. Arab-Israeli conflict Arab-Israeli War Suez War Six Day War War of Attrition Yom Kippur War Lebanon War First Intifada South Lebanon conflict al-Aqsa Intifada Lebanon War Israel-Gaza conflict

Contemporary SW Asia/N Africa 1.The Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The term "Middle East" was popularized around 1900 in the United Kingdom. 2.The Middle East is also the historical origin of three of the world’s major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 3.The Middle East generally has an arid and hot climate, with several major rivers providing for irrigation to support agriculture in limited areas. 4.Many countries located around the Persian Gulf have large quantities of crude oil. 5.In modern times the Middle East remains a strategically, economically, politically, culturally and religiously sensitive region.

Unifying Factors 1.GEOGRAPHY Oasis-village type of organization Beyond the oases – Nomadism Plateau & mountain regions (Egypt & Tigris/Euphrates region: Villages – dependable water supply for irrigation 2.CULTURE Islam – official religion or leading religion of all but Israel Arabic language a bond despite their linguistic differences Social order of Islam Region central to other monotheistic in faiths

Unifying Factors 3.COMMON HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE Product of 20 th century conflicts/interests of outside powers

Boundaries of Ottoman Empire

Islam Other “indigenous” religious traditions:  Zoroastriansim (confined to Persia)  Judaism (Babylonians  Romans)  Christianity (shifted to Rome) Muhammad the Prophet (AD )  Mecca: 45 mi. from Red Sea  receive revelations from Allah (God) AD 613  “recitation” = Qur’an (Koran)  Muhammad  Arab society  gained enemies  fled Mecca  Medina (Hejira: AD 623)

Islamic precepts New faith and new set of values  Arabs  Five Pillars of Islam: repeat basic creed daily prayer fasting  observe month of Ramadan giving alms to the poor pilgrimage to Mecca

The Spread of Islam By AD 1000: large empire  spread by Arab armies  Islam not an “Arab” religion  Arab capitals: Medina, Damascus, Baghdad Spatial Diffusion process:  expansion diffusion  relocation diffusion

Islam: leadership crisis Muhammad dies AD 632  blood relative? (Arab culture)  any devout Muslim? Muhammad’s successor (Caliph)  Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s wife’s father) d.634  Umar (d.644), Uthman (d.656)  Ali, a cousin of Muhammad (d.661)  Husayn ibn Ali & Karbala (AD 680)  Sunni & Shiites (Shia: “follower”)

Islam Secularism vs. fundamentalism?  Ayatollah (leader under Allah) vs. Shah (King)  Islamic Republics & Sharia criminal code Ottoman Empire  Ottoman provinces  colonies: boundaries?  Fragmented pop.  borders drawn before oil

Gross National Product per capita