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The Middle East

The Middle East. What is the “Middl e East?”. Europeans invented the term to describe region that lies between Europe and distant Asia (Far East) Term “Middle” only in relation to Europe SHOULD be called “ Southwest Asia ” Middle East includes North Africa

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The Middle East

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  1. The Middle East

  2. What is the “Middle East?” • Europeans invented the term to describe region that lies between Europe and distant Asia (Far East) • Term “Middle” only in relation to Europe • SHOULD be called “Southwest Asia” • Middle East includes North Africa • North Africa has “dual heritage”: Part of Africa, but strong ties to Middle East (Arabic language & Islam)

  3. OUR Middle East… • For the purposes of this class, we will include the following countries in our discussions of the region… • Iran • Turkey • Syria • Lebanon • Israel • Jordan • Saudi Arabia • Yemen • Oman • Kuwait • Qatar • United Arab Emirates • Egypt • Libya • Tunisia • Algeria • Morocco = Southwest Asia = Africa

  4. Crossroads of the World • Middle East stands at crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe • Since ancient times, it connected major trade routes by land and sea • Over thousands of years, peoples, traders, & conquerors spread ideas, inventions, and achievements. • EX: Iron making, the alphabet, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Arabic numerals, lateen sail • Today, Middle Eastern nations command vital sea routes • Some sit on vast reserves of OIL

  5. Black Gold • Middle East has variety of resources: salt, phosphate (used in fertilizers), copper, etc. • Most valuable = OIL • Unevenly distributed across region • Results in great economic disparity between oil-rich countries and those that lack oil • Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait oil rich

  6. Where’s the oil?

  7. Where’s the oil? *As of 2013, Canada (#3) & Venezuela (#1) should be MUCH larger. *Map not entirely up to date.

  8. Where’s the oil?

  9. WANTED: Water • Nearly all of the region a desert • Populations clustered in well-watered areas along coasts and in river valleys • <10% of land receives enough water for farming • Irrigation required

  10. Peoples of the Middle East • Many different languages, religions, traditions • Languages: Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew, Kurdish, Persian, Greek, Armenian • Religions: Islam, Christianity, Judaism • 19 countries, 350 million people

  11. What’s an “Arab?” • Arabs are majority group in many Middle Eastern countries • Beginning in mid-600s, Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula conquered many different peoples in the Middle East & North Africa • Over time, conquered peoples adopted Arabic language & Islamic religion • They, too, became known as Arabic • Today, “Arab” used to describe anyone whose native language is Arabic • Within this group, however, Arabs may differ greatly from one another

  12. Religious Diversity • Islam is the predominant religion in the region • Most Arabs are Muslim • Many non-Arabs are as well: Iranians, Turks, Kurds, etc. • Yet Islam itself is divided into different sects (groups): Sunni, Shiite, Sufi • Significant number of Christians live in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria • Judaism oldest of the three religions. • In Israel, majority of people are Jewish

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