Middle East Past Present Future Middle East Also

Middle East Past, Present, Future

Middle East • Also Called: – Southwest Asia - “Crossroads of the World”: because people often pass through the Middle East to travel between Europe, Asia, and Africa – “Cradle of Civilization”

Bodies of Water • • • Persian Gulf Tigris River Euphrates River Dead Sea Mediterranean Sea Red Sea

Middle East • Middle East is a region that includes countries in southwestern Asia and their influence extends into northern Africa. • 350 million people live in this part of the world

Climates & Rivers • • Water is scarce everywhere in the Middle East It is one of the driest regions in the world Deserts cover more than half of the region A desert covers most of Saudi Arabia, and in the northeastern part of the Middle East • There are oasis in the middle of some deserts, and many people live near the oases and raise sheep, goats, and crops – The capital of Saudi Arabia was built on a large oasis

Climates & Rivers • There are 2 main climates o Desert o Mediterranean: short, rainy winters and long, dry summer

Climates & Rivers • People live near rivers o Nile in Egypt; Tigris and Euphrates in Middle East o The soil is fertile o People can farm by irrigating the water to their fields

Religion & People • Three of the worlds most important religions began in the Middle East • All 3 teach monotheism (belief in 1 God) • Judaism, the religion of the Jews, is the oldest of the 3 religions and began in Israel thousands of years ago • Christianity, the Christian religion, developed from Judaism

Religion & People • Islam began in Saudi Arabia in the year 622 o It was started by an Arab leader named Muhammad o He taught that there is one God. o Muslims believe that Muhammad was God’s messenger o Muhammad’s teachings are in the Koran, a holy book to Muslims o Abraham is the Father of all 3 religions of this region

Religion & People • 5 Pillars of Islam – 1. Daily profession of faith – 2. Prayer 5 times a day • Dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, after full darkness – 3. Almsgiving • Includes charity work and knowing all things belong to Allah – 4. Fast during Ramadan (Holy Month) • From light till sundown (no eating or drinking) – 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca • About 2 million people go each year from everywhere; the closing of it is marked by a festival and exchange of gifts

Further Comparisons • Islam – Also called: Muslims – Believe in: Allah (Prophet Muhammad) – Holy City: Mecca – Bible: Koran – Church: Mosque (Friday is Holy Day)

Further Comparisons • Judaism – Also called: Jews – Believe in: Yahweh (Prophet: Moses) – Holy City: Jerusalem – Bible: Torah – Church: Synagogue (Saturday is the Holy Day)

Further Comparisons • Christianity – Also called: Christians – Believe in: God (Jesus) – Holy City: Jerusalem – Bible: Bible – Church: Church (Sunday is the Holy Day)

Religion & People • Most people in the Middle East are Arabs, who speak Arabic • Some countries have a small Christianity population • In Israel most people are Jews and speak Hebrew

Resources/Earning a Living • Oil is the most important natural resource • There is more oil in this region than in any other in the world • Many developed nations buy their oil from the Middle East

Resources/Earning a Living • There are few other resources in this region • Some countries have natural gas, iron ore, or phosphates • More than half of the people earn a living by farming, but most of the land is too dry for farming.

Resources/Earning a Living • Most nations are developing countries o Some use oil money to develop new industries o The standard of living is much lower than in the U. S. • Most people are poor • Most countries do not grow enough food to feed their people • Wars have been a problem for thousands of years and today this region still does not have real peace

Arabs/Muslims/Islam • 1. 3 billion Muslims in the World • Today 90% of the people in the Middle East are Muslims • 6 -8 million Muslims in the US (about the same # of Jews in the US) – Most American Muslims are African America or South Asian

Arabs/Muslims/Islam • Arabs are people whose native language is Arabic – Arabs can trace their ancestry back to the tribes of Arabia-the original inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula and the Syrian Desert. – Only 1 in 7 Muslims is an Arabic Terms: Hijab-women’s head scarf Ghutra-Arab men’s headdress Thobe-men’s loose-fitting neck to ankle robe

Understanding the Middle East Section 2

Problems There are 5 problems that must be solved to better the peoples lives: – Overpopulation – Poverty – Lack of water – Growth of Islamic Fundamentalism – Wars

Overpopulation o Too many people living in the region o Most cities are overcrowded o Most of the land cannot be farmed o Cairo, Egypt has become so crowded that many poor people now live in a large cemetery

Poverty o Some countries earn billions of dollars from exporting oil, but most people are poor o The region needs more factories and industries

Lack of Water o Some countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have built desalination plants to solve this problem (change salt water to fresh water; very expensive) o Other countries build dams to save river water in reservoirs

Growth of Islamic Fundamentalism o One goal of this movement is to win control of governments in the region o The new governments would be based on strict Islamic law o 1979: Islamic fundamentalist led a revolution in Iran; the shah (king) was forced to leave; it became an Islamic republic; now everyone in Iran obeys strict religious laws

Wars o Iran and Iraq fought from 1980 -1989; fighting has ended but still no peace treaty o 1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait under Saddam Hussein, because he wanted their oil fields; UN and US had to go to Kuwait to fight Iraq (Persian Gulf War); Iraq lost o Israelis and Palestinians have been at war since 1948

Hope for the Future • Most children in the Middle East have better lives than their grandparents • There are more schools, more jobs, better health care • Oil money has been used to build roads, hospitals, housing

Saudi Arabia

Overview • Has more oil deposits than any other nation in the world • The oil money it makes has allowed it to become a modern, developed country

Landforms, Climate, Cities • The Arabian Peninsula covers most of Saudi Arabia • Deserts cover most of Saudi Arabia • Has a very hot desert climate • Has no lakes or rivers

Landforms, Climate, Cities • Has the Empty Quarter desert in the south, with sand dunes over 1, 000 ft • The southwest has fertile soil; is the only region that gets enough rain for farming • Most people live in cities • There are 2 cities that are holy to Muslims: Mecca (Muhammad was born there), and Medina (Islam was born there)

History, People, and Government • Arabs have lived in Saudi Arabia for thousands of years o Many of the people were nomads; moving from one oasis to another o They travel on camels, live in tents, and raise sheep and goats o Many still live in the desert today, some modern ones travel by car instead of camel

History, People, and Government • Mohammad was born in Mecca in 570. o He began Islam o During his life, people living in the Arabian Peninsula became Muslims o Since that time Saudi Arabia has been a Muslim country

History, People, and Government • More than 1 billion people in the world today are Muslims • 19 million people live in Saudi Arabia today o They are called Saudis o Arabic is the official language o 25% of the people are workers from other countries

History, People, and Government • King Abdullah has been ruler of Saudi Arabia since 2005 (King Fahd before him) o He is a member of the Saudi royal family o This family has been important for hundreds of years o Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy (king has full power to make all laws; is also the religious leader)

Religion and Women • All citizens of Saudi Arabia must be Muslims – They cannot practice any other religion • All laws are based on Islamic law • There are special police officers who make sure people obey the laws • Islam allows Saudi men to have 4 wives • No one can eat pork or drink alcohol • There are no movie theatres, plays, or concerts in the country

Religion and Women • There are strict Islamic laws for women 1. Girls must study at separate schools 2. Women cannot drive cars, or ride bikes 3. When they leave the house it must be with a male family member 4. Women cannot work outside of their homes at jobs with men, only with women 5. They must be modest and wear clothes that cover their arms and legs; they must cover their hair and faces; so they wear a long black robe called an aba when they leave home, which covers their head, face, and body

Economy and Standard of Living • Oil and natural gas were discovered in the 1930’s • 1/4 th of all the oil in the world is found in Saudi Arabia • Since the 1940’s Saudi Arabia has earned billions of dollars from exporting oil • It is one of the richest countries in the world, but it is still a developing country

Economy and Standard of Living • 1/4 th of the people work at agriculture o The government has built desalination plants to take salt out of ocean water, which is used to grow food in the desert; but they still have to import more than half of their food • The Saudi’s are working to raise the country’s standard of living o o o Small villages now have electricity Cities have many modern apartment houses Free health care for everyone Free public schools Still more than 1/3 rd of the people cannot read or write

Appropriate Behavior When Visiting an Arab Home • Bring a Gift • Don’t admire their possessions or they are obliged to give you their things. • There will be too much food – Don’t Comment. • Only Eat with right hand – Left is personal • Never talk business before other matters.

Appropriate Behavior When Visiting an Arab Home • Always accept coffee – They use butter, milk, salt, or sugar • Do NOT show bottom of feet while sitting • Do not back away from a person while they are talking. • They WILL ask you to stay longer, thank them and leave on time.