Culture Pics 18.3

Temple of Ur

Iran Turkey

Making a fire in a wadi in Jordan Tent in Jordan Camel race in Israel

Population Patterns Ch. 18 Sec. 1

The Crossroads This region is the crossroads b/w Asia, Africa, and Europe  remarkable ethnic diversity –Differences among grps. based on their lang., customs, and beliefs

MANY PEOPLES Arabs Israelis Turks Iranians and Afghanis Caucasian Peoples Kurds

Arabs Most people in region are Arab- 275 million Majority are Muslims 290 mil. Arabic-speaking people Presently live in 16 countries, including those in North Africa

Arabs Before Islam spread, they were mainly on Arabian Peninsula –Now all over, including “Maghreb” Now, many Arabs are descendents of Egyptians, Phoenicians, Berbers, and others

Israelis 7.7 million (ppl living in Israel) 82% are Jewish, the rest are Christian & Muslim Arabs Trace heritage to Israelites who settled Canaan…God gave them this land permanently

Israelis Wars, persecution, & trade made Jews settle elsewhere  religion kept link to homeland alive 1890s: Zionism 1948: Israel founded as Jewish state

Israelis Arabs were mad about a Jewish state in territory that was theirs Palestinians are Arabs living in new Israel territory Many Palestinians were forced to leave

Israelis Agreements are now giving Palestinians more self-rule Problems still exist over city of Jerusalem, presence of troops in territories, return of Palestinian refugees, & water and resource rights

Turks From Anatolia Peninsula- migrated about 1000 C.E. Blend of many peoples who have lived there (C. Asn, Eur.) –One being the Ottomans (ruled Mediterranean for 600 yrs.) Most are Muslims; speak Turkish

Iranians 75 million live in Iran (formerly Persia) Descendants of Aryans (from southern Russia) 1000 B.C. Speak Farsi 90% are Shi’a Muslims

Afghanis Many different ethnic groups reflect centuries of migrations & invasions Speak many languages Most practice Islam

Caucasians More than 50 ethnic grps. in Caucasus area –Armenians and Georgians are largest

Caucasians Armenians: –Armenia became independent with fall of Soviet Union (’91) –Culture is over 15 centuries old –Most are Christian –1915: 1 million were massacred, deported, or died of illness from Ottoman Turks

Caucasians Georgians: –Independence w/ fall of Soviet Union –Most are Christian –Own lang. w/ unique alphabet

Turkic Peoples Mostly in Central Asia (esp. the “stans”) –Remnants of Turkish empires –Live outside of Turkey, who are Turks Uzbeks make up largest grp. Kazakhs are a minority in own country (Russians, Ukrainians, & Germans are majority) –But now with migration & better living conditions.

Tajiks Mostly Muslim Non-Turkic group living in Central Asia Live in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan Lang. is similar to Farsi

Kurds Most are Muslims Lang. similar to Farsi Live in border areas, with no established country (largest ethnic group without a country) –Region called Kurdistan –Attempts of self-rule put down by Turkish and Arab rulers Fearing an uprising, Hussein massacred Kurds in 80s

Population & Resources Water fights –Causes border disputes  Shatt al Arab (Iran & Iraq), Golan Heights (Syria & Israel) City fights –Rapid Urbanization  growing faster than the supply of food and housing. Slums are forming on outskirts Iran’s solution: decentralize the govn’t  take businesses and jobs out of Tehran, and spread them out to other cities.