What is culture? A group of people’s particular way of life Cultural Hearths are places in which religions, language, government organization, inventions, etc. have had the most effect on the rest of the world. The seven original culture hearths are: 1) The Nile River Valley 2) The Indus River Valley 3) The Wei-Huang Valley 4) The Ganges River Valley 5) Mesopotamia 6) Mesoamerica 7) West Africa

What is cultural diffusion? The spreading of cultures Some cultures are near each other or trade with each other and mix and blend over time (Soccer?) Sometimes they are spread by war. In this case, those who conquer try to force their beliefs on others because they think themselves to be superior. This is called ethnocentrism.

See, Think, Wonder Make observations about what you see, hear and generally notice. (I See…) What thoughts were triggered as you made your observations? Connections to your experiences; connections to culture; emotional reactions and judgments; fascinating and interesting observations (I think…..) What puzzles you? What questions do you have? What are you wondering about? (I wonder…)

SW Asia and Middle East

SW Asia in the World

Southwest Asia and Middle East

Speaking of ethnocentrism…. Why is this part of the world known as the Middle East.? The term Middle East was popularized by an American naval officer named Alfred Thayer Mahan in 1902, but it might have been used by the British during their years of colonialism in the region. China and Japan for example were considered to be the Far East so the region between the Far East and The West then became the Near East or the Middle East. It now generally means the Middle East plus Turkey and Iran. The terms Middle East and Near East are Eurocentric because they describe a region in relation to Europe or The West. Despite this, the term is now accepted and even people in the Middle East call it that (Al-Sharq Al-Awasat means Middle East in Arabic).

ANCIENT HISTORY Home of the first Cultural Hearth Centers of ideas, innovations and ideologies Mesopotamia Between Tigris and Euphrates River Farmers used irrigation and food storage Domesticated cereal, vegetables, fruits, animals Developed calendar, math, astronomy, government and engineering Many Empires have controlled Sumerian, Persia, Mongols, Romans, Ottoman Turks

HISTORY cont. Ottoman Turk Impact Oil Ruled from 1453 until after WWI 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 Oil Most important resource for outside world Within the realm, water and land most important About 65% of known reserves in world located here

Impact of Oil Middle Easterners who were mostly herders and fishermen became rich. Most countries have high standard of living. Countries have built desalinization plants, improved education and health. Not all oil is distributed evenly. Most around the Persian Gulf First oil in region found in 1908 in Iran. First discovery in Saudi Arabia in 1932. Shiites and Palestinians move into Arabia Saudi Arabia has 5 million foreigners in population of 23 million Disparities between oil rich and oil poor countries Foreign investment

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

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

Dubailand

And if that isn’t impressive enough!!!

Try Hydropolis: An Underwater Hotel

And there’s more! The Palms: 3 Artificial Islands in the shape of a tree!

IRAN Formerly Persian Empire that ruled for 2500 years Controls area between Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf 69.4 million population with 63% urban Struggle between modernity and traditional Islamic rulers Revolution in 1979 that put in Ayatollah Khomeini 1980-1990 fought war with Iraq that left Iran very weak Late 1990’s saw desire to liberalize, but put down by government Government is theocracy run by religious law Current US policies becoming a question. Nuke Threat?

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

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

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

MAJOR ISSUES: MODERN ISRAEL Golan Heights Syria wants it back but Israel wants to keep it West Bank Originally set as Palestinian Homeland but Jewish migration now makes it difficult 1977 5,000 Jews in West Bank 2000 200,000 Jews in West Bank Palestinians Nation without a state Many live in Jordan but still large percentage living in Israel

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

JERUSALEM, cont. Holy Site for 3 major religions Modern Issues Western Wall: Jewish Church of Holy Sepulcher: Christians, place where Jesus buried Dome of the Rock: Muslims. Muhammad's ascension to heaven on Temple Mount Modern Issues 1948-49 captures only part of Jerusalem Tel Aviv suppose to be capital of Israel Jerusalem divided into 2 sections: Old and New

MODERN ISSUES, cont. Jerusalem Modern Issues 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 1990’s UN tells Israel to stop construction and settlement, but Israel not listening Modern Issues One of wealthiest nations in region 90% of population urban Water issues: 30 % of useable water under West Bank but Israel uses 4X as much water as Palestinians Finding peace biggest issue and problem

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

Other Nations, cont. Lebanon Turkey 25 % population is Christian creating Civil War 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 Turkey Influenced by Chinese, Mongols, Russians, Byzantium and Islam Modern Turkey is remnants of Ottoman Turkish Empire Modern Problems 20 % of population Kurdish creating human rights violations Islamic Fundamentalism gaining some support and strength Cultural conflict between Alevis Islam and Sunni Islam Wants EU membership but not likely Controls Bosporus and Dardanelles