The Middle East: History, Religion, and Culture in 100 Characters

1. Bell Ringer Get out a NEW piece of paper and start Bell Ringers for Unit 2!!! • Are Allah, God, and Yahweh different or the same? Why do you think that? Be prepared to discuss, I may call on you at random.

2. Middle East https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8

3. Middle East • Includes South West Asia and North of the Sahara Desert in Africa • It is a united region due to its Climate, Religion, Language, and Economics

4. Original Religion and Culture Pre-Muhammad’s World • Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Kaaba • Tribes were animistic and polytheistic • Temperatures up to 129 ºF and only 2 - 4 inches of rainfall • Tribes defended trade routes, family, and water • Mecca was an established and vibrant center for trade • Diverse mixture – Christians, Jews, and Arabs of the desert

5. Life of Muhammad • Born in Mecca in 570 C.E. • Orphan at 4 years old • Raised by grandfather and nomads • Uncle Abu Taalib took him in • He was taught to be an expert in trade • Did not like the polytheistic belief system • Founded Islam • Qur’an or Koran is the record of his words and the sacred text of Islam

6. Life of Muhammad • Not nationality or tribe, but faith matters now • No longer poor vs. rich, now everybody is equal • Where is your miracle? • My miracle is the beauty of my message • Mecca became divided

7. 5 Pillars of Islamic Faith • Faith (Shahadah) Declaring there is no god except God and Muhammad is God's Messenger • Prayer (Salah) Ritual prayer five times a day • Fasting (Sawm) Fasting and self-control during the blessed month of Ramadan • Giving (Zakat) 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy • Pilgrimage (Hajj) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if he or she is able to do

8. Life of Muhammad Timeline • Born in Mecca in 570 C.E. • In 595 C.E. he married a wealthy widow, Khadija • In 610 he received a revelation from the Angel Gabriel • In 622 he fled to Medina • In 629 he returned to conquer Mecca • By 630 Islam was dominant in Mecca • In 632 Muhammad died in Medina

9. The Middle East

10. Middle East • Covers three continents • The Junctionof Europe, Africa and Asia • Strategic location • The Crossroadsof the world • Center for trade because of all the seas • Cultures shared customs and ideas (example of cultural diffusion) Bahrain

11. From Morocco in the West through Iran in the East • From Turkey North to the Arabian Peninsula in the South • Twice the size of the United States

12. The world’s earliestcivilizationsdeveloped here between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia - land between two rivers): • Sumerians (ziggurat and cuneiform), Babylonians, Assyrians, Ancient Hebrews (Jews), Egyptians (hieroglyphics), Hittites, Phoenicians, Persians • Mesopotamia is also The Fertile Crescent • An Oasis in the desert • No natural barriers • Frequent migrations and invasions from Mediterranean to Persian Gulf

13. Deserts and Plateaus • A lot of desert • Sahara- worlds largest, located in North Africa • Arabian located in Arabian Peninsula • Rub Al Khali– the Empty Quarter where the Bedouin (desert dwellers) live • Plateaus • Plateau of Iran • Plateau of Anatolia

14. Mountains • Atlas (Morocco) – separates them from rest of Africa • Barrier to trade with rest of Africa • Pontic (Northern Turkey) • Taurus (South/East around Anatolia Plateau) • Alborz(North Iran) • Zagros (West around Iran Plateau) Atlas Zagros

15. Climate • Melting snows • Cause floods • Deposit silt • Create rich soil with minerals • Climate • Mountains prevent clouds from reaching interior • Near equator • Warm winters, hot summers • Less than 10 inches of rain per year • Flash floods

16. Strategic Waterways • Turkey controls waterways that link Black Sea and Mediterranean – Dardanelles and Bosporus straits(access for Russia to sea) • Arabian Peninsula, surrounded by water • Red Seato the west • Arabian Seato the South • Persian Gulfto the east • Suez Canalconnects Red Sea to Mediterranean Suez Canal

17. Waterways • Nile River • Egypt founded • World’s longest river • Driest country, flooded yearly • Feeds Sudan and Egypt • Another civilization • Dead Sea • Lowest point on earth • (1,371 ft) below sea level

18. Cultural Aspects • Population • One of the driest areas of the world – 90% desert • When Population increases in land of deserts • Limited space – can only live in river valleys • Major languages • Arabic • Persian (Iran, Afghanistan) • Kurdish (Kurds) • Hebrew (Israel) • Turkish (Turkey)

19. Economy • Leading Export • 70% of world’s oil reserves • 50% of current world supply • Most precious resource • Water (only 7% of land farmable) • Don’t produce enough to feed themselves – they rely on world markets

20. Cairo, Egypt, the world's 13th most populous metro area Fun Facts • Most populous nation • Egypt – 71.2 million • Nation with the largest area • Algeria • Smallest nation in population • Qatar – 618,000 • Smallest nation in area • Bahrain

21. The Sunni Shi’a Split

22. Sunni vs. Shi'a • In 632, Muhammad died unexpectedly • Muslim’s were divided over who would succeed him • Sunnis • 85% of Muslims • Allow the council elders to choose • First Caliph: Abu Bakr • Shi’a • 15% of all Muslims • Believed Ali ibnAbiTalib, Muhammad's cousin and son in law, was to be the next leader

23. Sunni vs. Shi'a

24. Sunni vs. Shi'a

25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MZeHeOwEXI The Great Divide: Shi’a vs Sunni