Do Now: What’s the historic importance of the Middle East?

“Middle East” Euro-Centric name given to describe the land between the far east and Europe Includes North Africa, Maghreb, because of the cultural ties including Islamic culture and Arabic language. Situated between 3 continents making it a historically important area.

Oil Reserves Trade Routes Between North Africa, Middle East, Europe and South and East Asia. Religion Judaism, Christianity and Islam Early civilizations and ideas Iron work, the alphabet, etc.

Suez Canal– Controlled by Egypt Dardanelles and Bosporus- -Controlled by Turkey (Turkish Straits) Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, Aegean, Red and Arabian Seas Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden

Region 1 Anatolian Plateau (Turkey) with fertile soil and enough moisture to farm— Ringed by the Pontic and Taurus Mountains. Large Population Center of Ottoman Empire Region 2 Iranian Plateau Ringed by Elburz and Zagros Mountains Very Dry Small Population Birthplace of the Persian Empire

Surrounded by important bodies of water Mostly desert People live in oases (fertile areas in desert) Low Population Lots of Oil and therefore wealthy nations Home of Mecca (Muslim pilgrimage site)

Rich Soil and plenty of water Includes Nile River delta Home of Mesopotamia (land between the rivers) which was the birthplace of civilization

fertile and home of ancient Egypt and Nubia-Kush Predictable floods Valley was isolated by deserts.

Sparsely populated due to Sahara and Atlas Mountains Most people live along Mediterranean Coast

Population near rivers, coasts and oases Tigris, Euphrates, Nile Sparsely populated due to arid climate Most Important Resources Lack water Have Oil

Do Now: Watch the Video and Write: 1 Questions 1 Comment 1 Interpretive Statement

Animation

Cairo

Umayyad Caliphate CE Centered in Damascus, Syria Emphasis on Arab culture Discrimination toward non-Arab Abbasid Caliphate Caliph was descendent of Muhammad Overthrew Umayyad New Capital at Baghdad prospered Built Hospitals, Mosques, Libraries, Schools, Irrigation systems, etc. Outcome of 500 years= unified Muslim world

Though Islam and Arabic united the region Persian, Greek, Roman, Indian and Egyptian culture was absorbed into the culture Expansion and Development Shipping fleets traded Goods like Steel and textiles traded for silk and porcelain Banks established at trade posts Issued credit to merchants Educational contributions are numerous House of Wisdom in Baghdad 1004 by Caliph Al-Mamun

1300s Ottomans in Anatolia Nomads swept into region led by Osmen Bay 1453, Mehmed “the Conquerer” captured Constantinople ending the Byzantine Empire Suleiman ( )- The “Lawgiver” Ruled 50 million people Height of the Ottoman Empire Sunni empire

Sultan– Head of government– Absolute power 2 groups of officials to help run empire Men of Pen—Viziers (Lawyers, judges, mathematicians, writers) Men of the Sword—Janizary Corp (soldiers and body guards) Both groups made up of Christian children taken from conquered lands Did not have ties to rival Muslim families/tribes Millet—Non-Muslim communities loyal to Sultan

1500s the Safavids waged war on Ottomans Iran Safavids Shiite– Ottomans Sunnis Abbas the Great Shah (King) European helped him to fight against Ottomans Trained in Musketry and Cannonry Encouraged trade Brought Chinese to Capital Shahs ruled till 1979 though the Safavids were gone by 1736