Eastern Mediterranean Syria Jordan Israel Lebanon Cyprus Eastern
Eastern Mediterranean • Syria • Jordan • Israel • Lebanon • Cyprus
Eastern Mediterranean • Israel • (Palestine) • Golan Heights –a hilly plateau overlooking the Jordan River and southeast of Lebanon; its strategic location has caused much conflict in Southwest Asia
Religious sites 1. The Western Wall, leftovers of the Temple built by King Salomon. Strong God’s presence for Jews. 2. Church of the Holy Sepulcher, for Christians Rock of Elkhorn is the location of Jesus’ crucifixion. 3. Dome of the Rock, believed prophet Muhammad would ascend to heaven to speak with Allah
Israel Jerusalem, capital of Israel Claimed by the three religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Israel
Problems today in Israel • Zionism – national movement for the return of Jewish people to their homeland in the land of Israel • Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) created in 1960 s to help Palestinian Arabs regain their land.
The North East • Iran • Iraq • Turkey • Afghanistan
Kurds – Nomadic ethnic group w/ land claims in Iran, Iraq & Turkey, involved in many land disputes; 1988 Iraqi Air Force released mustard gas into air, 5000 Kurds died Taliban – In Afghanistan a fundamentalist government opposed to Americanism and strict interpretation of the Quran. This Muslim political group; imposed extreme rules on people’s behavior, women were restricted from being in public places Theocracy – a government controlled by both religious leaders and government officials known as THEOCRATIC
IRAQ
Turkey links two continents (Europe and Asia) bordered by the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea Wants acceptance into European Union to gain access to more markets
Turkey
Iraq War 2003 Iraq War- President Bush extends the War on Terror to Iraq indicating that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction. No weapons were ever found. Pro’s *A tyrant was captured and hanged. *Iraq was changed into a Democracy, Iraqi’s now have freedom. Con’s *Iraq did not attack U. S. on 9 -11. *Soldiers and money diverted from Afghanistan War to fight a new war. *3, 662 American soldiers have died as of 2009. *772 Billion dollars spent on Iraq war as of May 2010. *America’s image dropped because we went without evidence or UN approval.
Major Branches of Islam 90% Sunnis, moderate 10% Shi’ites, extreme Both Share the basic beliefs of Islam
Major Sects of Islam
9 -11 -2001 Sept. 11, 2001 - Worldwide terrorist group Al Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden attack Twin Towers and Pentagon. Nearly 3000 Americans are killed. 2002 - War on Afghanistan- US takes over Taliban government. Killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, by Navy SEALs, the raid on compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was launched from Afghanistan after the raid, U. S. forces took Bin Laden's body to Afghanistan for identification, then buried it at sea within 24 hours of his death
Afghanistan A Less Developed Country (3 rd World); Afghanistan is one of the poorest nations in the world; people engage in Subsistence Agriculture (produce only enough food to support their immediate families) and animal herding The government refuses to modernize its Infrastructure; country lacks good transportation systems, schools, hospitals and stores.
Afghanistan
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