1. Middle East and North Africa

2. The People Early Civilizations
People have been living in the Middle East and North Africa for almost 10,000 years.
In 6,000 B.C., farming communities developed and farmers began to domesticate animals. They would take them from the wild and make them useful to people.

3. The Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations were the world’s first culture hearths, centers where cultures developed and ideas and traditions spread to other areas.
Mesopotamia developed in the Fertile
Crescent, a rich agricultural region.
The largest civilization was the Persian
Empire. The Persian Empire spread from
Egypt to Afghanistan.
The Persians created underground canals
called qanats, and helped develop the Silk
Road. This was a trade route from the
Mediterranean Sea to China.

4. Many Peoples
Since many different people have traveled through the Middle East and North Africa for thousands of years, this region has a high ethnic diversity.
Ethnic diversity means there are differences among groups based on their languages, customs, and beliefs.
The largest ethnic group in this region
are Arabs.
Other ethnic groups include Israelis, Turks, Iranians, Afghans, Caucasians, and Kurds. Another ethnic group are desert nomads called Bedouins.
Languages
The main language spoken throughout this
region is Arabic.
Other major languages includes Hebrew, Berber, Turkish, Farsi, Pashto, and Kurdish.

5. Three Major Religions
Three of the world’s largest religions began in the Middle East and each believes in monotheism, the belief in one god.
The oldest is Judaism, whose
religious center can be found in Jerusalem.
Christianity is based upon the
life and teachings of Jesus.

6. The major religion in the Middle East
today is Islam, which started in the city
of Mecca.
In Islam, a house of worship is
called a mosque.
Muslims will make a pilgrimage, or hajj, to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia at some point in their lives.

7. Problems and Conflicts
One major problem in the Middle East is urbanization. Cities are growing too fast and there are not enough jobs, homes, or infrastructure (streets and utilities).
Nationalism has lead to conflict between countries and religious groups.
After World War II, four major wars broke out between Arab and Israeli forces. They were fighting over a part of Israel called Palestine.

8. Israeli forces took control of Palestine and Palestinian Arabs have been fighting for their freedom ever since.
The War in Afghanistan began in the
1990s when the Taliban gained control
of the country. Since then they have
been fighting with America, Britain,
and Afghan rebels.
There is also a border conflict between Iraq and Iran. They constantly dispute over land and water resources.

9. The Economy
Standards of living vary widely across the Middle East and North Africa.
Countries with oil production economies like Qatar and United Arab Emirates have a high standard of living. They have the goods they need and the goods they want.
Poverty is very common in developing countries like Egypt and Afghanistan. People are very poor and don’t have the resources that they need.

10. Some countries, like Libya, are trying to diversify their economy
Some countries, like Libya, are trying to diversify their economy. They depend so much on oil exports that they are attempting to earn money in banking, technology, tourism, and agriculture.
Meeting Food Needs
Only a small portion of this region is arable, good for farming, yet a large percentage of people work on farms.
Countries in the Mediterranean climate
are best suited for farming.
These countries grow wheat, barley,
corn, citrus fruits, grapes, olives, and dates.

11. Countries in warmer climates will grow
cotton, tobacco, potatoes, tea, and raise
silk worms.
The fishing industry is also important in this part of the world.
Industrial Growth
In the Middle East and North Africa, oil products are the main export commodities (economic goods).
Some countries have developed petrochemicals, products made from petroleum or natural gas. Such products include fertilizers, medicines, plastics, and paints.
Eight of the oil-producing countries are part
of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries). These countries have more control
over oil production and prices.

12. Mining is also part of the
economic growth.
The service industry is another
way for countries to make GDP
(gross domestic product). GDP
is the value of goods and services
produced in a country in a year.
Service industries include banking, real estate, insurance, financial services, and tourism.

13. The Government
The countries of the Middle East and North Africa have many different forms of government.
All North African countries were once ruled under European colonialism. Colonialism is the control of a country as a colony by another country. Revolutions have made all of these countries independent today.
Traditional government of these countries was under the rule of dynasties. A dynasty is rule by one family for hundreds of years.
Today monarchs (kings and queens)
rule in countries like Bahrain, Oman,
Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Oman has an absolute ruler called a sultan.
An absolute ruler has complete power and his
authority cannot be challenged.

14. Most countries in this region consider themselves republics.
Israel is a parliamentary democracy
with a president and a prime minister.
Places like Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have powerful presidents.
Some countries like Algeria have
Islamic political groups that try to
set up a government with religious
leaders in charge. This is called a
theocracy and is based on Islamic
Law or Sharia. Iran has a religious
government.

15. Arts and Recreation Art and Architecture
Early civilizations created sculptures,
metalwork, and buildings.
Sumerians built ziggurats which were
mud-brick temples. Egyptians built
pyramids from massive stone blocks.
Today Islamic architects build mosques
and palaces. Artist work in geometric
patterns and floral design because
sculpting living figures is not allowed.
They also use calligraphy, which is
elaborate writing.

16. Literature
Epics and poetry are the region’s dominant literary forms based on strong oral tradition.
The most famous of these is “The Thousand and One Nights”. It’s a collection of Arab, Indian, and Persian stories.
Today authors write about conflicts between traditional life and modern life.

17. Religious Holidays
Muslims observe Ramadan, a holy month
ordained by the Quran. During Ramadan,
Muslims can’t eat or drink during the daytime.
Yom Kippur is a Jewish holy day, as are Passover and Hanukkah.
Christmas and Easter is observed by Christians.
Sports
People participate in soccer, skiing,
bodybuilding, hunting, and fishing.
Board games like backgammon and chess are also very popular.