MIDDLE EAST

GEOGRAPHY

Civilizations begin in river valleys Crossroads of the world Ltd. water, oil unevenly distributed

ANCIENT CIVS. Mesopotamia – Fertile Crescent – land

between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Egypt – Pharaohs- dynasties – Gift of the Nile Hebrews Babylonians

ACCOMPLISMENTS

ACCOMPLISMENTS Cuneiform, wheeled vehicles, ziggurats,

pyramids, Hanging gardens, papyrus, hieroglyphics

Monotheism – Hebrews Hammurabi’s Code – Babylonians

GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM Arab armies and traders spread Islamic civ.

across N. Africa, Spain, India 750 A.D. Great advancements in math, science,

medicine, literature

                                                                                                         

CRUSADES 1050s Seljuk Turks conquer Palestine Christian Church calls for Crusade, to drive

Muslims out of Holy Land Christians do not regain Palestine, but distrust

remained between Christians and Muslims Trade increases, Europeans introduced to

advances of Islamic world

BYZANTINE EMPIRE Eastern Roman empire Capital at Constantinople Justinian emperor, law code Orthodox Christianity Preserves Greek, Roman, and Christian

culture Language, gov’t, art, architecture, influence

Russia

OTTOMAN EMPIRE Conquers Byzantine Emp. In 1453 Extends Muslim influence Suleiman strengthens gov’t, military, culture Decline of empire from 1700s – WWI, as

Europe’s economy and military gets stronger

Turkey Kemal Ataturk: Former military officer

overthrew Sultan and defeated Western powers

Declared Turkey a republic Separated religion and Government. Whose westernization policies were Ataturk’s

similar too?-

IMPERIALISM European nations

divide up Middle East Suez Canal built 1869,

later quest for oil

Egypt Results from Imperialism Gamel Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt

desired Pan-Arabism, land reform and builds the Aswan Dam

Egypt takes back Suez Canal 1956 – defies GB and France – stop here 4/15

Prompt: ME struggles to maintain peace.

What are some reasons for this? How is the international community involved?

                                                                            

 

Forces shaping the Modern ME Religious & ethnic tension

Muslims, Christians and Jews- with different Sects

30 languages Religious, racial and cultural prejudices Desire for a united Arab state

Forces shaping the Modern ME Natural Resource

Largest oil fields in the world Oil rich nations have $ and political power Limited water supply

Forces shaping the Modern ME Governments

Democracy- Turkey, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan Royal Families – Saudi Arabia, Jordan Theocracy – Iran Dictatorship- Syria

Forces shaping the Modern ME Islamic Traditions

Laws of Islam in government, society and personal life

Anti-western feelings 1990s revival of Islamic traditions

Opening scene of Argo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6RGeq

NFaQM

IRANIAN REVOLUTION 1979 Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi westernizes,

modernizes Iran but rules as dictator Islamic Fundamentalism – strict adherence to

Muslim traditions Ayatollah Khomeini, Islamic Fundamentalist seizes

power, set up Islamic Republic U.S. hostage crisis – 52 hostages held from 11/79-

1/81

Hostage Crisis US plans a rescue of

hostages but it fails Hostages are finally

released the minute after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated (just to spite Carter)- Jan 1981

Carter’s presidency was over when the rescue plan failed

Khomeini’s Control Women wear chadors Anyone opposed to him

or loyal to the shah were killed

Western books and music were banned

Iran encouraged Muslims in other countries to overthrow secular governments

IMPACT OF REV. New gov’t hostile to west Strict adherence to Islam Many women’s rights taken away Iran encourages other revolutions Khomeini dies 1989

IRAN – IRAQ WAR 1980 Saddam Hussein invades Iran over disputed

border territory Iran is Shiite (rightful leader a descendant of Ali,

who was chosen by Muhammad) Iraq is Sunni (rightful leader chosen by Muslim

community) Millions killed Oil shipments disrupted 1988 U.N. ceasefire

Hassan Rouhani 7th and current

President he said he would prepare a

"civil rights charter", restore the economy and improve rocky relations with the West.”

 Rouhani is viewed as politically moderate.

Current Ayatollah – Supreme leader Ali Khamenei Protests against him for

human rights issues

ISRAEL formed after WWII and Holocaust Diaspora – dispersion of Jews from

homeland around the world Zionism / Theodore Herzl – movement and

leader for a Jewish state in Palestine Balfour Declaration – 1917 British

document supporting a Jewish state

ARAB-ISRAELI WARS U.N. partitions Palestine in 1947 Israel is a nation in 1949

Israel 1948-1949

David Daud Cite evidence from the

readings that support David’s reasoning why Israel should have been formed.

Cite evidence from the reading that explains Daud’s reaction to the creation of Israel.

ISRAEL Arab neighbors soon attack More wars = Israel takes more territory from

Arab neighbors Suez Crisis 1956 6 Day War 1967 Yom Kippur War (on holiest holiday)1973

Reaction of the Palestinians:

Intifada since 1987, uprising of young Palestinians defying Israeli soldiers, throwing rocks, homemade bombs

CAMP DAVID ACCORDS 1979

U.S President Jimmy Carter

Egypt’s Anwar Sadat

Israel’s MenachemBegin

Camp David Accords Ended the war between Israel and Egypt Egypt gets the Sinai back Israel is FINALLY recognized as a nation.

Egypt signs a treaty. 1st Arab nation to recognize the existence of

Israel Sadat is assassinated by extremists

PLO Palestinian Liberation

Organization Led by Yasir Arafat Used terrorist and

guerilla tactics against Israelis

bombings., hijackings, massacre of Israeli athletes at 1972 Munich Olympics

1993 Peace TalksYasir Arafat (PLO) and Yitzhak Rabin agree to

peace at the White House

Rabin later assassinated

TODAY Limited Palestinian self-rule, but no independent

Palestinian state Israelis continue to build settlements on Palestinian

claimed land Since 2000, Palestinian riots and suicide bombings Israeli attacks on Palestinian areas 2002 roadmap of peace working toward Palestinian

state, but terrorism and violence continues

OIL / OPEC- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Creates great wealth, major changes, but huge disparity

Source of wars and territorial dispute

PERSIAN GULF WAR Iraq invades oil-rich

Kuwait 1990 U.N. imposes

economic sanctions Iraq does not leave

Desert Storm UN approved attack against Iraq US leads 28 other nations War lasts 4 days, “100 hour war” United States is victorious

Afghanistan Post USSR – Taliban takes control of

government Severe restrictions: Conservative Islamic rule Osama Bin Laden uses country to train

followers and plan attacks on the West September 11, WTC struck by al qaeda US response = invasion of Afghanistan

WAR IN IRAQ By 2003 U.S. and Great Britain convinced Saddam

Hussein is hiding w.m.d. Iraq invaded without U.N. support Saddam Hussein captured, large scale fighting over Peacekeeping forces rebuilding Iraq and its

government Problems still include resistance, terrorism, ethnic

and religious divisions

SOCIAL ISSUES Modernization and westernization vs. traditional

Muslim values Some women expected to be subordinate, but

urbanization and modernization creating tensions Women can now vote in all Middle Eastern nations

except Saudi Arabia (monarchy) Many Muslim nations accept western technology,

but not values and culture