NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST ASIA
•Grouped together due to common physical characteristics, histories, and cultural beliefs
•Naming the Region•Dry World•Arab World•Islamic World•Middle East
•Earliest cities recorded around Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
•Rich soil and water source
•Birthplace of civilization
FERTILE CRESCENT
Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers”
•Sahara •Largest in the world
•Arabian•Desertification
•Expansion of desert around the world
DESERTS
•Longest river in the world•Flows from higher elevation in south to Mediterranean in north
•Area of rich, fertile soil•Annual flooding
THE NILE RIVER
•Located between Iran and Arabian Peninsula
•Extension of Indian Ocean
•Discovery of oil transformed the region to area of commercial wealth
PERSIAN GULF
•Lowest point on Earth
•Highest salt content in the world•Desalinization
DEAD SEA
•Physical Factors•Cluster near water sources•Low-lying areas allow for agriculture
•Temperate/mild climate
SETTLEMENT FACTORS
•Human Factors•Access to resources, economic activity, transportation
•Homogeneity of society
SETTLEMENT FACTORS
Highest population density is located along the river banks (delta), 2 major centers are Cairo and Khartoum
Desert (dry)Water, fertile soils
NILE RIVER VALLEY
Higher population density along the east side of the Tigris River, city of Bagdad has high population density
Desert (dry), semi-desertWater, fertile soils
TIGIRIS-EUPHRATES RIVER VALLEY
Population centers include Qatar, the east coast of Oman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi is a large population center
Desert 9arid)Oil and natural gas
PERSIAN GULF
Sparse population throughout most of the region, large population concentration in Morocco, Libya, and Algeria, and Egypt along the Mediterranean Sea
Desert (arid)Oil and natural gas
SAHARA
Sparse population. Most people rely on a nomadic way of life.
Desert (arid), semiarid Grasslands, small trees, farmland
SAHEL
Complete the last column of your chartFinish maps
TODAY
1. Why are the Red Sea and Suez Canal of strategic value in the region?
2. How did the presence of oil in the region change the region's importance in the global economy?
3. Which resource do you believe is more important in Southwest Asia- water or oil?
4. What agricultural products are raised in the coastal areas?
5. How do the two types of deserts in the region diff er from each other?
HOMEWORK QUIZ B
Dead SeaOasisSalt Flat Drip irrigationDesalinizationFossil WaterCrude OilRefinery Mecca IslamMosqueTheocratic
OPECDome of the rockPalestine Liberation
Organization (PLO)KurdsSunniShi’iteTaliban Stateless Nation
VOCABULARY
Crude Oil Oasis Desalinization
Drip Irrigation
Mosque Kurds
Refinery Islam Theocratic
Fossil Water
Dead Sea Taliban
Salt Flat Mecca OPEC Stateless Nation
MAJOR RELIGIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
• Islam• Judaism• Christianity
JUDAISM
Followers known as Jews Currently 14 million people practice Judaism
Worship God (called Yahweh) and follow his teachings Main laws & practi ce is found in the Torah
First 5 books of the Old Testament (Bible) Additional practices found in the Tenach and the 10 Commandments
BASIC HISTORY OF JEWISH FAITH
Divine covenant between God and Abraham in 2000 BCE
Prophet Moses led people to IsraelHoly city of Jerusalem
Founded by King David First temple built in Jerusalem but was
destroyed in 70 CE In 1948 the nation of Israel was created
as a Jewish state
JEWISH BELIEFS
Services held in synagogues on SaturdayBeliefs:
Consider themselves to be God’s Chosen People Believe that the Messiah will arrive in the future to lead all followers
to Jerusalem Strict Practices
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Food restricti ons
CHRISTIANITY
Followers known as Christians Over 2.1 billion followers
Worship God the Father (one God) Belief in the Holy Trinity
God, Son of God, Holy SpiritMain religious text is the Bible- the word of God
Consists of two parts: Old and New Testaments
CHRISTIAN HISTORY
Break off of Jewish faithLeader was Jesus Christ- man
believed to be the Son of God sent to save humanity from sins Jesus was crucified by the Roman
government circa 33 C.E.Aft er crucifi xion, one of the 12
disciples, Paul of Tarsus, built the structure of the church
Constanti ne adopted Christi anity for himself Eventually accepted as the offi cial
religion for Rome
CHRISTIAN BELIEFS
Services held in churches, mostly on SundayMany diff erent denominati ons
Roman Catholic Orthodox (Eastern, Greek, Russian) Protestants (include Baptists, Methodist, Lutheran, Amish, Anglican, etc.)
Holy Citi es- Jerusalem and BethlehemBeliefs
Faith in Jesus (Messiah) will lead to salvation and life in heaven
ISLAM
Followers known as Muslims 1.5 billion practice Islam
Worship Allah (the One True God) Believe that prophets have brought news from god, but reject the idea
of a saviorReligious Texts
Qur’an- the words of Allah Hadith- sayings from Muhammad
HISTORY OF ISLAM
Muhammad the Prophet founded the religion in 622 CE Creation of Islamic city- Medina Other Holy Cities- Mecca and Jerusalem
No true successor to lead the religion splitti ng into two major denominati ons Sunni follows the teachings of the Umayyad leaders Shi’a follow the teachings of Ali (closest male relative to
Muhammad) Islam spread through Middle East, Northern Africa, Spain
ISLAM- BELIEFS
Services are held on Friday at a mosqueFive Pillars of Islam
Shahada- declaration of faith Salat- daily prayer routine Zakat- tithe or alms (giving to the church) Sawm- period of fasting for purifi cation Hajj- journey to Mecca
Follow a strict code of law Shar ’ia
Food restricti ons Instructi ons on how to live life
Warm-up 1/22
1. What landmark is this?1. Egyptian Pyramids
2. Where is it located?1. Egypt, specifically, Giza located outside of Cairo
3. Which culture created it?1. Ancient Egyptians
4. Why/when was this landmark created? 1. 2630-2611 BC, they were originally built to protect the body of a dead Pharaoh
5. What defining characteristics of this landmark standout to you?
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
Centered around control of Jerusalem Land has been constantly fought over because of the fact that
it is a holy land for not only the Jewish faith but also IslamCity founded by Jewish King David in 1000 B.C.E.Muslim Arabic armies took control in 638 C.E. Nation of Palestine created and controlled by Islamic
Empires Crusades
Religious wars during Middle Ages
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
In 1948 the state of Israel was created by the United Nations Land taken from the nation of Palestine and split into two parts
but kept under the control of one nation
Palestinians feel like the land is rightfully theirs and refuse to recognize Jewish control
Jews feel like it is their land and were willing to share with Muslims until violence ensued.
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
West Bank is currently considered to belong to the Palestinians (not recognized as an independent nation)
Peace Talks have been taking place as recently as 2012.
LEBANON
HistoryCivil War 1975-1990
Christian vs Muslim Syria and USA sent in troops 1983 - Suicide attack on US embassy; another in October
killed 241 US troops. US troops withdrawn in 1984.Hezbollah - the Party of God
political and military organization in Lebanon made up mainly of Shia Muslims.
LEBANON
TodayWar is being fought between Lebanon and Syria over
border control and religion Government is currently controlled by a leader who was
put in place by Syria after the Civil WarHas many Palestinian refugees
AFGHANISTAN
1979-1989 Soviet occupationTaliban
Islamic religious students formed the group's main recruits
1996 it captured Kabul and instituted a strict Islamic regime
Gave Osama bin Laden (al Qaeda leader) safe haven
2001 UN coalition attacked Taliban
AFGHANISTAN
TodayElected President Hamid Karzai controls the nationUS trying to help institute a democratic government
IRAN
Government ruled by Supreme Leader Theocratic leader
History US backed Shah Reza Pahlavi during 1950s and 1960s Revolution led by Ruhollah Khomeini Led to Khomeini being named Ayatollah (Supreme Leader) Leader of Iran through Sharia law
IRAN
Today Has a Presidential system of government
President is under the lead of the Supreme Leader Repairing from Iran-Iraq War Tensions with the UN over nuclear weapons Poverty stricken and high unemployment rates set the
stage for the nation’s economy
IRAQ
History Ruled from 1958-2003 by military
dictatorship Saddam Hussein from 1979-2003
War between Iran and Iraq starting in 1980 Most fighting occurred over religious
beliefs Sunni vs. Shia
Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990
IRAQ
Today
Gulf Wars have resulted in oil issuesUnited States and British invasion in 2003 resulted in overthrow of Saddam Hussein
Issues with creation of a democratic government in Iraq
1. Why might water projects in Southwest Asia cause controversy?
2. How has the presence of large deposits of oil changed the lives of the people of the Arabian peninsula?
HOMEWORK QUIZ A
1. Why was the region of Southwest Asia important to colonial powers?
2. What impact has technology had on the supply of oil and water in the region?
HOMEWORK QUIZ B
MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE
Struggle between tradition and modernity
Islam is often seen as both a religion and a lifestyle
Focus on:Honor (self-respect to self-pride) Equal treatment regardless of wealth, position, or rank.
Strong loyalty to extended family, friends, and locality
Expectation of solidarity.
SHA’RIA LAW
Code of law practiced in many Islamic nations Often just practiced regionally, not necessarily 100% in
control with governmentGoverns not only legislative issues but also personal
ways of living Some examples:
Rituals and worship Property and inheritance Contracts and trade Public Finance Crime Hygiene
SOCIAL NORMS AND CUSTOMS
Hygiene Cleansing body before entering
house of worship Using only right hand for eating
and drinkingRespect
Displaying the sole of one’s foot or touching someone with a foot
Taking shoes off at homes, mosques
No PDA Greeting elders before young Modest amount of personal
space Greeting with statement of
‘Peace Be with You’
HOSPITALITY AND EATING
Hospitality Accepting snacks/drinks when
offered Homes open at all times to
guests
Eating Etiquette: On ground Will use a common plate in some
occasions Pass using right hand
EATING REQUIREMENTS
Halal Eating Requirements: No:
Pork or pork by-products Animals that were dead prior to slaughter Birds of prey Alcohol Carnivorous animals No animal fat
Any animal that is slaughtered must be done in the name of Allah and face Mecca
CLOTHING
Men Must be covered from knees to waist in Islamic nations Most wear turbans or head-covers for both religious
purposes and to cover head from extreme heatWomen
Many women are not required to wear head-coverings but choose to do so for modesty
In some Islamic countries, women are expected to be covered fully with exception of hands and face
Stricter nations require everything to be covered Rationale is so women are not viewed in a sexual manner
TYPES OF VEIL
Hijab- head-covering used as a symbol of womanhood and modesty. Mostly associated with religion.
Khimar- long cape-like veil covers hair, neck, and shoulders
Chador- full body cloak worn in Iran
Niqab- veil attached to head-cover. Covers all but eyes.
Burqa- covers entire face and body with mesh screen to see
GENDER RELATIONS
Most societies are patriarchal Women expected to submit to both religion and men Men are considered the breadwinners and closer to religion Women were expected to have an escort when in public
Many still prefer arranged marriagesDivorce is not normally allowed
In some nations today, women are allowed to ask for a divorce
Tradition said that all a man had to do was say a ‘divorce code’
Men most of the time get the childrenEducational inequalities exist
Many women are not offered education of any sort
STATUS OF WOMEN
Women’s roles vary in different nationsPersian Gulf states- most women do not work outside of home, if they do its in all women institutions
In Egypt, women are allowed to file for divorce and travel overseas without approval
In Turkey, women wear Western clothes In Kuwait, women are allowed to vote In Saudi Arabia, women eat separate from men in public and can attend female only universities
Watch the video to practice for your map quiz!
WARM-UP 3/9