1. Geography of the Middle East

2. - Middle East as tricontinental hub between Europe, Asia, & Africa - Geopolitical significance - Birthplace of three monotheistic religions - Base of extensive empiresBase of extensive empires - Resource area for 66% of the world’s oil Tricontinental Junction: An Introduction Chapter 1

3. - Place of explosive conflicts after World War II: -Arab-Israeli conflict (1947 – present) -Yemen Civil War (1960s) -Lebanon Civil War (1975-1991) -American Embassy hostage crisis (1979-1980) -Iran – Iraq War (1980-1988) -Gulf War I (1990-1991) -Afghanistan (2001 – present) -Gulf War II (2003 – 2011) -Arab Spring (2010 – present) -The Rise of ISIS (2013 – present)

4. - Despite extensive reporting on the area, few media have offered in-depth, objective analysis of the Middle East’s complex patterns: - religions ? - peoples ? - cultures ? - politics ? - aspirations? - Why this lack of analysis? - Why the lack of objectivity?

5. - as media sources fail to balance Middle East reporting, Americans often perceive the Middle East in negative terms - stereotypes and prejudices have roots as far back as the Crusades, and experienced vivid injection after 9/11 - the need to learn the fundamental geographical factors: - Middle East as “Cradle of Civilization” - Middle East as matrix for later Western- and Orient civilizations - Middle East as birthplace for three important religions - Middle East as preserver of the Hellenistic world - Middle East as remarkable commercial crossroads

6. Five contemporary facets dominate the world’s perception of the area: 1) unequaled petroleum sources 2) ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict 3) terrorism 4) rivalries among leaders and states 5) extremism among all religious groups

7. Defining the Middle East: - limits of region are variously conceived - terms such as “East”, “Near East”, “Far East”, or “Middle East” are ultimately Eurocentric - our textbook focuses on sixteen countries, from Egypt in North Africa to Turkey and Iran in SW- Asia What will the Middle East look like in 20 years?

8. NOW THEN?