1. Middle East and North Africa
6.3 | Politics and Economy

2. Origin of Politics After Muhammad died, Islam needed a successor
These were called “Caliphs” or Khalifas
They established large Islamic Caliphates
The Umayyad Caliphate c. 700 AD
Wars with Christianity
The Byzantine Empire (2nd Rome)
The Frankish Empire (Germanic)
Later adopted much Latin and became Romanized
Later, became France

3. Origin of Economy The Caliphates controlled Middle Eastern trade
Lucrative trade from Asia to Italy
The Abbasid Caliphate c. 750 AD
Defeated the Chinese Tang Empire (Battle of Talas River)
Islamic merchants would dominate Silk Road trade
The Islamic world was the wealthiest on Earth
Demand
Supply
Markets

4. Political Development
After the Crusades and the Mongol Conquest
The Mamluk slaves defeat the Mongols, 1260 AD
Political fragmentation
Religious fundamentalism
Two massive Islamic Empires emerge
The Ottoman Empire (Sunni)
Centered at Istanbul (Constantinople)
The Safavid Empire (Shia)
Centered at Isfahan

5. Economic Development The Ottomans began to heavily tax trade to Europe
Europeans got fed up and decided to get to Asia themselves
Marco Polo’s travels
European exploration (sail East, later West)
Christopher Columbus thinking he was in India
Trade routes shifted and Islamic economies suffered
Over time, economies would suffer greatly

6. Politics today
Cold War divisions led to American dominance of leadership
Support for loyal leaders (often tyrannical)
Issues with Israel (1948)
Jewish nation in the middle of Arab/Islamic nations
US support and war
Islamic countries loyal to US are often the most corrupt
Sanctions on Iran since 1979
The CIA coup d'état of Iran
Many governments struggle with reform
US support of conservatism
Internal issues with fanaticism

7. Economy Today Economies are mostly dependent upon the West
Foreign ownership of Islamic industry
Oil is the major industry of the M-E
Disrupted by corruption, foreign encroachment, and instability