1. History of
SW Asia

2. Fertile Crescent "Holy Lands" Mesopotamia Egypt
Many Westerners, many who have a “Western Faith”,
consider the area between Egypt and Iran
to be the Cradle of “Cradles of Civilization”.

3. Sumerian Civilization is the first major recorded culture group
of this region.

4. Assyrian Empire extended through the “Fertile Crescent”

5. Babylonian Empire was the last of the Mesopotamian Empires

6. The Babylonians conquered and took the Jews into captivity.
Western wall – remnant of second temple built on the site.

7. Persian Empire – Last of the Ancient “Native” Empires.
The Persian Empire was the last of the native based empires
to rule over part or all of this region. (Persians released Jews)

8. Alexander and Hellenistic Empire was first major outside Empire`

9. Roman Empire conquered the fringes of this region. They had
so much trouble with the Jews they forced them out of the region,
event known as “Diaspora” (Dispersion).

10. The story of the masada resistance and the current cry
“no more masadas” originate with the Jewish rebellions
against the Romans.

11. (Carved in living stone church, Petra, Jordan.)
Coptic
Church
Cairo,
Egypt.
(Carved in living stone church,
Petra, Jordan.)
During the Roman occupation of this
region, the Christian faith emerges.

12. Early Arabic Settlement
Marib, Yemen.
By 500 AD, another Semitic
group, the Arabs, have
established themselves in
the southwest portion of the
Arabian peninsula. The area
around Mecca becomes
their center.

13. By 620 AD (year 1 of Islamic Calendar) Mohammad has
begun to unite the Arab tribes under the religion of Islam
and Arabs begin to extend their control over the Arabian
Peninsula.
Aerial View of Mecca and the Kaaba

15. By 750 AD the Arab Tribes have united and spread an Arab/Islamic
Empire across most of this region and beyond.

16. Christian crusades fail to stop the advance of the Arab Empire or
retake the Holy lands.

17. In 732, a Frankish army commanded by Charles Martel halts
the advance of the Arab/Islamic empire into Western Europe
at the Battle of Tours, France.

18. The Empire of the Turks, the Ottoman Empire, gradually replaced
the Arab/Islamic Empire.

19. Polish Jan Sobieski victorious at Vienna
In 1673 and in 1683 (battle of Vienna) the advance of the Ottoman
Empire is halted in Eastern Europe.

20. Fighting on the side of
Germany in WW1, the
Ottoman Empire is
dismantled and Middle
East and African lands
become European
colonies and League of
Nations Mandates.

21. Sykes/Picot Agreement(UK/France) ends this dream
Arab Leaders Promised “Arabian Empire” if they revolt against Ottomans.
British send T.E. Lawrence “Lawrence of Arabia” to organize rebels
Sykes/Picot Agreement(UK/France) ends this dream

22. Israel became a nation
in 1948, immediately
fighting a war with its
neighbors and
immediately having
a Palestinian Refugee
problem.

23. added additional lands to Israel. Sinai returned in 1982 to
The Six Day War (1967) and
the Yom Kippur War (1973)
added additional lands to
Israel.
Sinai returned in 1982 to
control of Egypt.
Why is Jerusalem so important?

24. US Involvement in SW Asia
WWII – USA
forces fight
Axis in
North Africa.

25. US Helps Produce/Imports Oil

26. over and occupants held hostage.
1958-Pres.Eisenhower sends troops to stop Communist takeover in Lebanon.
1983 – USA forces again
enter Lebanon to help
in Civil War.
1979 – USA Embassy is taken
over and occupants held hostage.

27. Israel/Palestine Peace Talks
Why does the US govt love Israel?

28. 1980 – 1988 USA supports Iraq in the Iraq/Iran War.

29. 1990-91 USA forces participate in Operation Desert Storm
to expel Saddam Hussein from Kuwait/protect Saudi Arabia.

30. Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003
Fighting ISIS/Supporting Yemen