510-515-Chapter22 10/16/02 11:28 AM Page 510

Main Ideas The Eastern • The holy places of three religions are found in this Mediterranean subregion. • There is a great deal of political tension among nations in this subregion. Places & Terms Western Wall A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE On September 28, 2000, riots broke out in Dome of the Rock the city of Jerusalem. The cause was a visit by an Israeli political leader Zionism to a Jewish holy place at a location on the Temple Mount. Muslims also Palestine Liberation have a holy place on the Temple Mount. They viewed the visit by the Organization (PLO) Israeli leader as disrespectful to Muslims. Hundreds of people died in the civil unrest that followed. Connect to the Issues religious conflict To understand why a simple visit to a holy place would cause such problems, it is necessary to understand the deep-seated hostility Arabs Creation of the nation of Israel led to conflict in the region. and Jews feel for each other. They have an enormous disagreement over the control of the city of Jerusalem and of the land called the Occupied Territories. (See the map on page 480.) In fact, the relations between Arabs and Jews affect the entire region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

PLACE Christian pilgrims walk Religious Holy Places on the road to the Mount of Olives Three major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam— on a holy day—Palm Sunday. were founded in Southwest Asia. All three claim Jerusalem as a holy city. The City of Jerusalem, which covers 42 square miles, has Jewish, Christian, Armenian Christian, and Muslim sec- tions. Followers of all three religions come to the Old City to visit locations with strong spiritual meaning. JEWISH PRESENCE For Jews, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is the center of their modern and ancient home- land. Located in the old part of the city, the Temple Mount once housed the religion’s earliest temples. There, King Solomon built the First Temple. The Second Temple was constructed after the Jews returned to their homeland in 538 B.C. Modern Jews come to pray at the holiest site in Jerusalem, a portion of the Second Temple known as the Western Wall—also called the Wailing Wall. It is the only remaining piece of the Second Temple, which was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans. CHRISTIAN HERITAGE For Christians, Jerusalem is the sacred location of the final suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. Towns and villages important in the life of Jesus are found near Jerusalem. Every year, Christians visit places like the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by the thousands. When Jerusalem was under Muslim control, Christians launched the Crusades to regain the lands and place them under the

510 CHAPTER 22 510-515-Chapter22 10/16/02 11:28 AM Page 511

control of Christians. Eventually, the lands returned to the control of Muslims and remained that way until the nation of Israel was established in May of 1948. ISLAMIC SACRED SITES After Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem is considered the third most holy city to Muslims. A shrine there, called Dome of the Rock, houses the spot where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad rose into heaven. Jews believe it is the site where Abraham, a Jewish fore- father, prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. The Dome of the Connect to the Issues Rock and a nearby mosque, Al- religious Aqsa, are located on the Temple Mount next to the Western Wall. conflict Because these most holy sites are so close together, they have been the What prob- site of clashes between Jews and Muslims. lems might emerge when three different A History of Unrest religious groups claim the same The nations of the Eastern Mediterranean have been plagued with a PLACE Muslim visitors area as a holy history of political tension and unrest. The Ottoman Empire, a Muslim gather at the Dome of place? government based in Turkey, ruled the Eastern Mediterranean lands the Rock, a holy site in the city of Jerusalem. A. Answer Each from 1520 to 1922. But the Ottoman Empire grew weaker and less able group may want How did control of exclusive use of to solve problems with groups seeking independence. By the beginning Jerusalem change the area, angering of the 20th century, its collapse was not far away. The Ottoman Empire over many centuries? the other groups. sided with Germany during World War I. At the end of the war, the Ottoman Empire fell apart. Britain and France received the lands in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of the war settlement. THE LEGACY OF COLONIALISM After World War I, Britain and France Background divided the Ottoman lands in the Eastern Mediterranean region. France The League of took the northern portion, including the present-day countries of Nations gave the Ottoman lands to Lebanon and Syria. Britain controlled the southern section, which SW ASIA France and Britain. included the present-day nations of Jordan and Israel. Britain and France were supposed to rule these lands until they were ready for inde- pendence. During the time of their control, the French frequently played different religious groups against each other. Those tensions remain in the region today. The Syrians hated the French and in the 1920s and 1930s rebelled against them. Lebanon became independent in 1943, and Syria gained independence in 1946. BRITISH CONTROL PALESTINE The land controlled by Britain was known as Palestine. In the 19th century, a movement called Zionism began. Its goal was to create and support a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Jewish settlers started buying land and settling there. By 1914, just before World War I, about 12 percent of the population in Palestine was Jewish. After the war, the British took command of the region and continued to allow Jewish immigration to Palestine. Early

The Eastern Mediterranean 511 510-515-Chapter22 10/16/02 11:28 AM Page 512

Creation of Israel

1922 Today Beirut Beirut British mandate Present day Israel Damascus Damascus LEBANON French mandate LEBANON Occupied by Israel

SYRIA GOLAN SYRIA Sea Sea HEIGHTS Haifa IRAQ Haifa IRAQ

Mediterranean Mediterranean

r r

e e

v v

i i

R R

Tel Aviv- WEST n Tel Aviv- WEST n

a a Yafo BANK d Yafo BANK d r r o Amman o Amman J J Jerusalem Jerusalem GAZA STRIP PALESTINE Dead Dead Sea Sea N N ISRAEL W E W E TRANSJORDAN JORDAN S S

EGYPT EGYPT Arabia SAUDI ARABIA

SINAI SINAI PENINSULA PENINSULA

0 50 100 miles 0 50 100 miles Gulf of Gulf of Aqaba 0 50 100 kilometers Aqaba 0 50 100 kilometers Lambert Conformal Conic Projection Lambert Conformal Conic Projection

SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Maps PLACE Which bodies of water form a natural boundary between Jordan and Israel? PLACE Which three areas are occupied by Israel?

on, Arabs and Jews in the region cooperated. But as more and more Jews poured into Palestine to escape persecution in Germany, the Arabs resisted the establishment of a Jewish state. In 1939, to reduce tensions the British halted Jewish immigration to Palestine. As you study the map on this page, you will see that the area con- trolled by the British was divided into two sections—Transjordan and Palestine. The land was divided to relieve tensions between Arabs and Jews. An Arab government jointly ruled Transjordan with the British. Britain controlled Palestine, along with local governments that included both Jews and Arabs. CREATING THE STATE OF ISRAEL At the end of World War II, thou- B. Answer Israel sands of Jewish survivors of the Holocaust wanted to settle in Palestine. held more land and occupied Palestine was considered the Jewish homeland. World opinion sup- certain Arab ported the establishment of a Jewish nation-state. Britain eventually territories. referred the question of a Jewish homeland to the United Nations. In 1947, the United Nations developed a plan to divide Palestine into two states—one for Arabs and one for Jews. Using the Atlas Arabs in the region did not agree with the division. However, the nation Use the Atlas of Israel was established on May 14, 1948. Immediately, the surrounding on page 480. Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and How was the land Israel occupied in Yemen invaded Israel to prevent the establishment of the state. Jewish 1967 different troops fought back. By the 1950s, Israel was a firmly established nation. from the land it The 1948 war was the beginning of hostilities that continue to this day. held in 1948?

512 CHAPTER 22 510-515-Chapter22 10/16/02 11:28 AM Page 513

Caught in the middle of this turmoil were Palestinian Arabs and Christians. Many of these people had roots in Palestine that went back for centuries. They either fled their homes or were forced into Background UN-sponsored refugee camps just outside Israel’s borders. The land des- A refugee is a ignated for the Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza Strip is under person who leaves Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) home or country Israeli control. In the 1960s, the to find safety in was formed to regain the land for Palestinian Arabs. Over the years, the another location. PLO has pursued political and military means to take possession of Arab land in Israel and allow refugees to return to their homes.

Modernizing Economies The nations in the Eastern Mediterranean subregion are relatively young. Most became independent shortly after World War II. Cyprus received its independence from Britain in 1960. These nations face many economic problems. Political divisions, refugees, lack of water, and a weak infrastructure make it difficult to develop healthy economies. REFUGEES AND CIVIL WARS The creation of Israel produced a large number of Palestinian refugees. Today, those refugees and their descendants total almost 3.6 million people. They are scattered across Palestinian Refugee many of the countries in the region. Some still live in Camps UN-sponsored camps. In 1949, the UN authorized Many of the refugees have struggled to find adequate the creation of 53 Palestinian food and shelter. Many of them are unemployed. refugee camps. The camps were Providing education and other services for them is dif- supposed to be used only for a ficult for nations such as Jordan, one of the poorest in short time until the Palestinians were resettled. That was over the region—and the one with the largest Palestinian 50 years ago. Today, most of the refugee population. Palestinians living in the camps Background Civil wars in Lebanon and Cyprus have also caused were actually born there and The island of huge economic problems. Lebanon, a more developed have never been to the lands Cyprus has two designated for the Palestinian countries. One is nation, was hard hit by a civil war that lasted from state. controlled by 1975 to 1976. The conflict widened to include other The camps house upwards Greek Cypriots nations, and in 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon. Some of 35,000 people and some as and one by Turkish Israeli troops remained in Lebanon until 2000. many as 50,000 people. The Cypriots. Only UN and other nations provide SW ASIA Turkey officially MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE All of the nations of the money for education and health recognizes the Eastern Mediterranean subregion have great potential care needs. Since the Israeli Turkish republic. government restricts all travel for development. They have a good climate for produc- for work, economic opportuni- ing citrus crops and many places for tourists to visit. ties are very limited. They are well located for connections to international markets in Europe, Asia, and Africa. What many of them lack, however, is an infrastructure that would support a growing economy. Roads in war- torn areas, for example, must be rebuilt. Especially needed are irrigation systems to make the area bloom. Better communication systems and power sources are needed for developing high tech industries in the region. Israel has been able to build sophisticated industries such as computer software development.

The Eastern Mediterranean 513 510-515-Chapter22 10/16/02 11:28 AM Page 514

This young woman is a member of the Israel Defense Forces. Unmarried Jewish young women are required to serve for two years. They serve in various parts of the armed forces, in jobs such as tank instructors, helicopter pilots, military police, rescue workers, and office workers. They are not permitted to serve in active combat units. Service in the armed forces helps build unity and identity for Israelis. If you lived in Israel, you would pass these milestones: • You would go to school from • You could drive at age 17. age 5 to age 15. • You could get married at • At age 14, you would choose age 17. between going to a technical • You would enter the armed school or a more academic forces at age 18: men for 3 school. years, women for 2 years. • You could begin working at age 15.

Modern Life Modern life in the Eastern Mediterranean is a curious blend of old and new. Strong cultural traditions exist but they are combined with changes that were brought about by modern innovations. Cell phones, comput- ers, and Internet access are increasingly common. One aspect of life here that remains quite traditional, however, is the dining experience. EATING OUT, EATING IN Eating in restaurants in Eastern Mediterranean countries is not as common as in the United States. Some restaurants have separate sections for men and women. Cafes serving coffee and tea are generally for men only. Most meals are eaten in the home. Families and sometimes friends gather to have meals. The last meal of the day is usually served between 8 and 11 P.M. C. Answer In Typically, a meal begins with small portions of hummus, ground the U.S., many chickpeas mixed with lemon juice and parsley, and baba ganouzh, an families eat out eggplant dip served with pita, a flat bread with a pocket. A salad called regularly. Men and women are tabbouleh, made of bulgur (cracked wheat), parsley, onions, mint, toma- not separated in toes, and lemon juice, is common. Chicken or lamb is more likely to be restaurants. served as a main course than beef. Many meals are finished with fresh fruit or sweets such as kolaicha, a sweet cake made of barley flour, sugar,

oil, and cardamom seed. Thick coffee or tea is also served. The host of a Making dinner may not eat with the guests so that he can attend to all their Comparisons needs during the meal. In what ways is the dining A VARIETY OF CULTURES Muslim Arabs make up the majority of experience in this people who live in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean. region different However, in several nations, especially Lebanon and Israel, there is a from that of the variety of cultures. United States?

514 CHAPTER 22 510-515-Chapter22 10/16/02 11:28 AM Page 515

Since the seventh century, Lebanon has been a refuge for both Muslims and Christians. Many of the Muslims there are Shi’ites, as compared to the Sunni majorities in many of the other nations in this region. A small group of Druze also live in Lebanon. This tightly knit group is very secretive about its religious practices. The mem- bers live in the mountainous areas of Lebanon and also in Israel and Syria. Christians of the Maronite tradition (Roman Catholics following Eastern Orthodox practices) and D. Answer PLACE A woman Because space is the Eastern Orthodox tradition make up a large minority in Lebanon. walks along the so limited, it may Together, these groups present a wide variety of cultures and religious beachfront of cause friction practices. The variety makes it difficult to build unity in the country. Beirut, Lebanon. between groups, Israel is a land with a tremendous variety of immigrants. The major- How does Lebanon’s or it may force relative location them to get along ity of immigrants are Jewish, and they arrive from all over the globe. make it a refuge so that there is They come from the United States, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean for Muslims and peace. region, Russia, and Ethiopia. The focus of Jewish culture helps to draw Christians? most of this diverse group together. In addition, Israel is home to Arab Muslims of several different Seeing Patterns groups. Bedouins live in the Negev Desert. Druze, Sunni, and a group How might the called Circassians come from the Caucasus Mountains area. Also living small size of Israel in Israel is a small number of Christians and people following the and Lebanon Baha’i faith. The combination of all these groups brings a variety of lan- affect the way groups of people guages and lifestyles to Israel. living there relate In the next section, you will learn about countries in this region with to each other? ethnic backgrounds that are Turkish or Persian.

Places & Terms Taking Notes Main Ideas Geographic Thinking Explain the meaning of PLACE Review the notes you took a. How did colonial rule set Determining Cause and SW ASIA each of the following for this section. up tension in the Effect How did the creation terms. subregion? of the nation of Israel Southwest increase tension in the • Western Wall Asia Eastern b. What impact have refugees subregion? Think about: • Dome of the Rock Mediterranean and civil wars had on mod- ernizing the economies of • religious differences • Zionism • What are some religious holy this subregion? • division of Palestine • Palestine Liberation places found in this subregion? c. In addition to Muslims, Organization See Skillbuilder • What factors have made it what other groups live in Handbook, page R9. difficult to develop this the Eastern Mediterranean subregion economically? nations?

MAKING COMPARISONS Review the maps on page 480 and page 512. Create a series of four sketch maps that show how the state of Israel changed between 1922 and 1976. Write a caption on each map describing the change from the previous map.

The Eastern Mediterranean 515