1. The Middle East II

2. The Middle East
Mostly Arabian Culture
Mostly Islamic

3. The Middle East The Middle East is a flexible term
Includes most of North Africa plus Southwest Asia
Some countries in North Africa may be excluded
Some countries in Central Asia may be excluded

4. ARABIC COUNTRIES North Africa Southwest Asia Gulf States Morocco
Algeria
Tunisia
Libya
Egypt
Southwest Asia
Iraq
Syria
Jordan
Lebanon
Palestine
Yemen
Gulf States
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Qatar
UAE (United Arab Emirates)
Bahrain
Oman

5. ARABIC COUNTRIES Speak Arabic
The borders to most Arabic countries were drawn by Europeans
Borders are not along ethnic lines
Borders are not along religious lines
Causes conflict where a strong leader (normally) holds the country together

6. Non Arab Countries in the Middle East
Israel
Jewish
Turkey
Turkish language and culture
Iran
Persian language and culture

7. Islam: Sunni vs. Shia

8. Natural Resources The middle east’s main resource is still Oil
Many of the Middle Eastern countries were founding members of OPEC
Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, & Kuwait
Tries to control the price of oil by limiting supply

11. Natural Resources The Middle East lacks fresh water resources
Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Oman use desalination plants to get fresh water

12. Hagia Sophia Built by the Roman Emperor Justinian in 532
First a Cathedral, then a Mosque, now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey
Largest unsupported dome in the world

13. Arabic Architecture Has pointed arches
Verses from the Koran and names of the prophets are incorporated into the buildings

14. North Africa Most people in Northern Africa live
Morocco
Algeria
Tunisia
Libya
Egypt
Sudan
Mali
Niger
Most people in Northern Africa live
Along the coast
Along the Nile River
Along the Niger River
All these areas provide fertile soil and better climates
Arabic is the most common language

15. Sahara Made mostly of rocks and gravel Ergs-field of sand dunes
Regs- extensive gravel-covered plains
Hammadas- barren, stony, plateaus

16. Sahara Bigger than the Continental United States

17. TUAREGS
Known for the blue robes they wear for protection from the Sahara desert
Trade across the Sahara connecting Sub-Sahara Africa with the ports and goods of Northern Africa

18. TUAREGS
Ancient people who originally traded salt for gold in the Ancient Malian city of Timbuktu
Have their own culture and ethnic identity separate from the rest of Africa

19. Mali
In 2012, the Tuareg fought for their own independent country in northern Mali.
This weakened the government’s control of the area and militant terrorist groups seized the whole northern part of the country
These terrorists wanted to set up a militant Islamic homeland

20. Mali
In January 2013 France invaded northern Mali in an effort to kick out all terrorists in Mali
In retaliation, terrorist groups in Algeria kidnapped European, American, and Japanese workers
The Algerian military immediately intervened

21. TERRORISM violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror)
Is done for a religious, political or, ideological goal
Ideological-characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
Targets civilians or people who do not fight

22. Egypt
People have been living along the Nile River for eight thousand years
The river provided:
Water for crops
A transportation route
Fertile soil
The surrounding desert provided safety from invaders

23. Arabia Rub al-Khali-the empty quarter The world’s largest sand sea
Makes up 20% of Arabia’s land

24. Iraq and Mesopotamia
The world’s first civilizations began here along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
These rivers begin in Turkey and flow through Syria and Iraq

25. Stateless Nations
A stateless nation is a nation of people that do not have any land that is legally theirs
Example: Between 70 AD and 1948 the Jews were a stateless nation
No Israel on the map

26. Since 1948 the Palestinians have been considered to be a stateless nation

27. Kurdistan Kurds live in Turkey, Syria Iraq and Iran
Kurds do not have their own country
Stateless Nation

28. Kurdistan (stateless nation)
Kurds are not Arabic or Turkish
Kurdish Terrorists fight for Kurdish independence in Turkey

29. Ottoman Empire Capital was Istanbul Ruled Eastern Mediterranean
Declined in 17th & 18th Centuries
Fell after WWI

31. Colonial Times Ottoman Empire fell after WWI
Britain and France divided up its possessions
French Mandate included
Lebanon and Syria
British Mandate included
Palestine, Trans-Jordan and Iraq

32. British & French Mandates