The Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia Subregions 18

The Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia Sub-regions 18. 4 and 18. 5 Reading for Meaning

Arabian Peninsula

18. 4 Population Patterns- Arabian Peninsula �Deserts make up a large majority of the region, so there is a high population density near water Population densities are deceiving; cities are crowded but few people live inland, therefore the population densities for whole countries are low �Most of the people are Arabs �Most of the people are Muslims (Islam is the religion, Muslims are the people) �The discovery of oil brought wealth, modernization, and immigration.

Modern Saudi Arabia

18. 4 History and Government � Yemen was home to one of the oldest civilizations between 1100 BCE 500 CE � Great Britain was a longterm protectorate of many countries, helping ward off the Ottoman Turks � Eventually, those countries gained independence, including Kuwait in the 1900’s

18. 4 History and Government � Sheikdom: territory ruled by an Islamic religious leader. � Saudi Arabia practices Shari’ah Law, meaning the government follows the religious laws placed by the Qur’an � Kuwait and Qatar have Constitutional Emirates, which are similar to Constitutional monarchies

18. 4 Culture � In addition to Sunni and Shia, Ibadhism and Wahhabi are also Islam sects. Ibadhism practices moderate conservatism b/c they choose their ruler by communal consensus and consent Wahhabi practices liberal teachings of the Qur’an � The countries that support education have a very high literacy rate (Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman)

18. 4 Culture � Islamic Culture in the region Islam discourages living figures in religious art as well depicting Muhammad ▪ Mosques and palaces are best known places to find Islamic art Celebrations ▪ Id al Adha- feast of sacrifice ▪ Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) ▪ Ramadan- holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk

18. 4 Main Idea/Critical Thinking � Oil revenues fuel modernization More infrastructure (roads, bridges, schools, etc. ) More social programs (health, education, etc. ) More technology (computers, phones, etc. ) � Oil brings an influx of immigrant workers Those workers bring and spread their own culture (think pop/soda in the U. S. - even slight changes are changes!) Foreign influence begins and starts to westernize some countries

18. 5 Population Patterns of Central Asia �The many different ethnic groups is a reflection of the centuries of migration and invasions by outsiders �Georgia and Armenia were both under Soviet control but became independent after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 (remember Yugoslavia? ) �Conflict has shaped much of this sub-region Armenians massacred in Turkey, others were deported, or simply died

18. 5 History and Government � The Silk Road was the trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea. Central Asia as a whole has a very accessible location along the trade route. People and Empires wanted access to the trade route and therefore raised conflict and conquered people. People/Empires that at one time controlled this region ▪ ▪ Genghis Khan and the Mongols Alexander the Great Arabs Ottoman Turks

18. 5 History and Government �Review Enclave: territory that’s within another territory. They are usually ethnically different ▪ Armenia is majority Christian and is an enclave of the larger region dominated by Muslims Exclave: Group isolated from the main or larger part of the country �Soviet Union and Afghanistan invasion 1979 Military reaction from the Afghan Freedom Fighters (Mujahedeen) Rise of the Taliban Instability in the region

18. 5 History and Government � Taliban Fundamentalist Islamic Group that took control after the Soviets were gone ▪ People followed them partly out of desperation (think Hitler in post WWI Germany) ▪ Imposed extreme interpretation of Islam � Afghanistan today Unstable First elections held in 2004 Legitimate government still has problems ruling and providing basic services

18. 5 Culture �Central Asians mostly speak Turkic languages (except Georgia, which has its own language and alphabet) Iranians speak… Arabs speak… �Islam and Christianity are the main Central Asian religions �Most people in Central Asia lack basic needs such as healthcare b/c of Fall of USSR (Why? ) Internal and external conflicts

18. 5 Main Ideas and Critical Thinking �This centrally located Middle Eastern sub- region has been a major stop in trade routes throughout history, making it a center for cultural exchanges. The mountainous terrain and dry climate make it suitable for livestock and herding animals �Afghanistan has a large number of ethnic groups living in one country. It is difficult to accommodate all the needs and wants of each group.