CHAPTER 23 SECTION 3

 Part of the Fertile Crescent Region  Jordan is between Israel and other Arab nations, so it has been greatly affected by conflict in the region.  Most of the land is dry, rocky desert.

 Jordan takes control of West Bank after 1948 war but loses it after 1967 war.  Loses most of economy and business and second largest city East Jerusalem.  Today half of Jordan’s population is Palestinians.

 Jordan has overcome to troubles to develop into a very modern country.  It’s economy is improving.  Jordan has a government format known as Constitutional Monarchy.

 Chaos due to breakdown of government  After gaining freedom from France power was divided among several religious groups.  Groups: Maronite Christians, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, Greek Orthodox Christians and Druse

 The Religious Division of power worked for a while.  1958 Civil war erupted. A peace agreement was reached but war broke out again in  1975 PLO begins to establish itself in Lebanon.

 After Civil war and anarchy peace returns.  An agreement among the various people groups allows for a shared power.  Manufacturing and banking industries begin to grow.

 Syria has been a productive and prosperous country for many years.  Farming has dropped off recently due to out of date methods.  Government is working to improve farming methods.

 1970 General Hafez- al-Assad took power in Syria and made all decisions.  2000 his son takes over and makes sweeping changes.  Syria moves towards a free market economy.  Political prisoners are freed and limits on freedom of speech is removed.

 Iraq’s main plain is located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.  For centuries farming was the most important activity in Iraq.  Oil discovered in 1920’s and Iraq spent billions developing the country.

 1980 Iran is attacked by Iraq led by Suddam Hussein.  Iraq furiously attacked Iran and even used poison gas.  The United States and Soviet Union came to help Iraq. The United States also secretly sold weapons to Iran.

 In 1990, Iraq attacked Kuwait.  1991 United States leads United Nations forces against Iraq.  Iraq suffered huge losses: 85,000 soldiers died and thousands of civilians died.  Iraq suffered economic damage also from embargos placed on them by other countries.  Iraq could not sell oil in the world market during this time.