The “Middle East”The “Middle East”(North Africa & Southwest Asia)(North Africa & Southwest Asia)

Introduction To The RegionIntroduction To The Region

► what are our preconceived notions?what are our preconceived notions?► dominance of Islamic culturedominance of Islamic culture

but there are non-Muslim and non-Arabic groupsbut there are non-Muslim and non-Arabic groups the term the term MuslimMuslim speaks of believers in Islam speaks of believers in Islam the term the term ArabArab refers to the largest ethnic group refers to the largest ethnic group

► deserts, irrigation, and the role of waterdeserts, irrigation, and the role of water► geopolitics and the curse/blessing of oilgeopolitics and the curse/blessing of oil► peace process in the Middle Eastpeace process in the Middle East► Middle Eastern history in 90 seconds

Physical PatternsPhysical Patterns► ClimateClimate

One of the driest regions in worldOne of the driest regions in world► Water as the most precious sourceWater as the most precious source► Desert clothing and scorching temperaturesDesert clothing and scorching temperatures

On margins of deserts and in mountain On margins of deserts and in mountain ranges enough rain for limited agriculture, ranges enough rain for limited agriculture, herdingherding

Climate ZonesClimate Zones

Figure 6.4

Physical PatternsPhysical Patterns►Landforms and VegetationLandforms and Vegetation

Some mountains induce orographic Some mountains induce orographic effecteffect►Atlas Mountains: skiing industryAtlas Mountains: skiing industry►Mountains of southwest ArabiaMountains of southwest Arabia►Anatolian highlands of TurkeyAnatolian highlands of Turkey

Major deserts: Major deserts: ►Sahara, Rub’al KhaliSahara, Rub’al Khali

Three major rivers: Three major rivers: ►Nile, Tigris, Euphrates Nile, Tigris, Euphrates

What are wadis? What are wadis?

Wadi in Algeria

Population PatternsPopulation Patterns

Immense expanse of deserts in the region leads to dense Immense expanse of deserts in the region leads to dense Population clusters near coasts, rivers, and in moist uplandsPopulation clusters near coasts, rivers, and in moist uplands

Oasis in the United Arab Emirates

Landscape in Iran

Landscape in Oman

Palestinian children

Snapshots from the region and its peoples

Atlas Mountains in Algeria Taurus Mountains in Turkey

Oman Mountains near Muscat Elburz Mountains in Iran

Mountainous Regions of the Middle East

Cappadocia (Turkey) eroded chimney rocks

Alluvial fan at the foot of a mountain range

Sand dunes in Saudi Arabia

Nile Delta and the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba

Other important Features

Sandstorm over the Persian Gulf

Amasra (Turkey) on the Black Sea

Satellite image of the Black Sea

Water Bodies of Importance

Satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea

Traditional Landscapes and Peoples

Modern Urban Landscapes from Riyadh to Dubai

Contrasts on the Arabian PeninsulaContrasts on the Arabian Peninsula

Weddings in Three ReligionsWeddings in Three Religions

Israeli bride and groom in Gaza

Muslim bride and groom in Tehran

Arab Christian bride and groom in Jerusalem

The Spread of Islam, 630-1700 ADThe Spread of Islam, 630-1700 AD

Figure 6.9

1) shahadah (Profession of Belief)

2) salah (5 daily prayers Mecca)3) zakah (religious tax)4) sawm (holy month of

Ramadan)5) hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Five Pillars of the Islam

1.) Pilgrims perform cleansing rituals at designated stations outside Mecca. Men and women exchange their street clothes for hajj garments (Ihram / sacred state) –

stripping themselves of social distinctions and embracing their dedication to God.

2.) Among other rites, pilgrims circle the “Kaabah”, a shrine at the center of the Grand Mosque – built, it is said, by Abraham and his son - seven times counterclockwise in a procession called the “Tawaf”. It symbolizes placing God's House at the center of their lives.

3.) On the first official day of the hajj, pilgrims take a three-mile journey into Mina,

where they spend the night in a massive tent city.

4.) In the morning, pilgrims continue east to the Plain of Arafat, where Muslims believe Adam and Eve were reunited after leaving Eden. A daylong group vigil, in which pilgrims stand in the presence of God, marks the zenith of the hajj.

5.) At sundown, the hajj loops back toward Mecca, halting at a patch of hills called the “Muzdalifah”, where pilgrims stop for the night, participate in a nightlong vigil, and collect stones for the next day.

6.) At dawn, pilgrims cast pebbles at the “Jamraat”, three stone pillars that symbolize temptation - places where Satan tried to tempt Abraham from the path of God. They first throw seven stones at the largest pillar, and then stone the other two over the course of two or three days.

7.) Back in Mecca, pilgrims can perform the seven turns around the “Kaabah” one last time before heading home. The end of the hajj is celebrated with a three-day feast.

The Shii of the Middle East

(The Majority of Muslims in the world consider themselves Sunni)

Diversity of LanguagesDiversity of Languages

Arabic: official language in all countries in Arabic: official language in all countries in the region except Turkey, Iran, and Israelthe region except Turkey, Iran, and Israel►Turkey: TurkishTurkey: Turkish►Iran: FarsiIran: Farsi►Israel: HebrewIsrael: Hebrew

Non-Arabic minorities retain own Non-Arabic minorities retain own languageslanguages

Arabic dialects homogenizing under Arabic dialects homogenizing under media pressuremedia pressure►French and English major second languagesFrench and English major second languages

Major Languages in the RegionMajor Languages in the Region

Figure 6.26