MIDDLE EAST Middle East Climate Deserts • Sahara (North Africa) & Arabian Desert Desert Landscape • Sand dunes • Rocky desert – 15% of Sahara – 85% of Sahara Areas With Freshwater • Areas with Mediterranean Climate – Same climate as So. Cal. – Rainy winter, Dry summer – On Med. coast above 32oN Areas With Water • Mountains… – Atlas Mtns. – Zagros Mtns. – Yemen Mountains of Yemen Areas With Water • River Valleys… – Nile River – Tigris & Euphrates River Valleys – Ancient Civilizations • Nile Valley - Egypt LANGUAGES • Arabic – Originated in Arabian Peninsula – South of Taurus & Zagros Mtns. Arabic LANGUAGES • Non-Arab Mountainous North… – Turkish – Farsi in… LANGUAGES • Hebrew in…. ISLAM • Followers are “Muslims” • Began with Muhammad – Lived ~ 600 AD – Born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) • Holiest City… Five Pillars of Islam 1. Make a profession of faith – “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet” PILLARS OF ISLAM 2. Pray 5x/day towards Mecca 3. Charity… PILLARS OF ISLAM 4. Daytime fasting during Ramadan 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca Islam Division • Sunni Muslims – Most Muslim countries • Shi’ite Muslims – Iran, Iraq THE MAGHREB • 3 Countries: M.A.T. • Were French Colonies until 1950s • Atlas Mtns. • Med. Climate… • Sahara… ATLAS MOUNTAINS • Over 13,000’ in… • Highest mtns… MOROCCO • Strait of Gibraltar MOROCCO • Casablanca… EGYPT • Most Populated … • Nile River – Water supply – Floods • Deposited fertile silt… Nile River Valley • 95% of Egypt’s pop. Aswan High Dam & Lake Nasser • Benefits: – Electricity – Year-round irrigation • More ag production • Benefits of Dam: Aswan High Dam & Lake Nasser • Negative Effects: – Silt trapped…. • No more floods depositing fertile silt • Med Sea fishing… Cairo • Largest city… – Only subway… Giza • Pyramids Alexandria • 2nd largest city… • Summer… Suez Canal • Mediterranean Red Sea • Built 1860s – By Brit & French… • 1956 – Egypt gained control • Tolls… Sinai Peninsula • Mt. Sinai Mt. Sinai • Moses… – 10 Commandments… LEBANON • Mediterranean Climate – No desert LEBANON • Mountains (10,000’) • Cedar Forests… LEBANON • Beirut - capital LEBANON • Ancient Home of the Phoenicians – Became Christian • Arab Conquest, 700 AD – Brought Islam • Under French control 1920s-1940s – French is the 2nd language… LEBANON • Diverse population – 60% Muslim – 40% Christian LEBANON • Civil War 1980s – Christians vs. Muslims – Emigration of Christians • Peaceful now ISRAEL • 1/50 the size of Calif. • Unique religion/language of the Mid East Israel’s People • 80% Jewish, Hebrew-speaking ISRAEL’S PEOPLE • 20% Muslim Arabs ISRAEL • Country est. 1948 • Historically called “Palestine” • Med. Sea in west • Water Features in east – Sea of Galilee • Main source of freshwater – Jordan River – Dead Sea DEAD SEA • 1300’ below sea level…. • Lowest elevation.. • Extremely salty… Dead Sea ISRAEL’S CLIMATE • North ½ – Med climate – Rainy in winter • South ½ - Negev Desert Negev Desert in South “The Promised Land” of the Jews • God promised Palestine to Abraham’s Descendants – Jews are Abraham’s Descendants – Jerusalem – Jewish Capital • King Solomon’s temple – Destroyed in 70 A.D. – Western Wall remains – Holiest Place for Jews Jerusalem • Dome of the Rock – Holy for Muslims – Muhammad rose to heaven Jerusalem – Holiest Place for Christians • Jesus’ death (crucifixion) & resurrection Arab-Jewish Conflict • Britain ruled 1920s–1940s • 1947 - UN plan to divide Palestine – Jewish state (“Israel”) (green on map) • Est. 1948 – Arab state (“Palestine”) (yellow on map) • Not accepted by Arabs Arab-Jewish Conflict • Both believe Palestine should be theirs – “Promised land” for Jews – Arabs lived there 700-1900s AD ARAB-JEWISH WARS • Israel conquered additional land after 1948 – West Bank – Gaza Strip JORDAN • Desert • Petra SYRIA • Civil War 2011-Present (2016) • 3-way war – Govt, Rebels, & ISIS (“Islamic State”) • ISIS – Group of Islamic extremists • Want strict Islamic law – Conquering much of Syria & Iraq – Violence against: • Christians • Moderate Muslims SYRIA’S CIVIL WAR • Mass Migration of Refugees – 4 mln left Syria (20% of population) – Many trying to go to Europe • Esp. Germany IRAQ • “Mesopotamia” – T & E Rivers • World’s first: – Agriculture – Cities (Babylon…) IRAQ • Was led by Saddam Hussein – Overthrown in U.S. invasion 2003 • ISIS controls parts of Iraq ARABIAN PENINSULA • Saudi Arabia • Yemen • Oman • United Arab Emirates • Qatar • Bahrain • Kuwait • Desert Nomads – Bedouins • Herders of… PERSIAN GULF • 60% of World’s Oil #1 – Saudi Arabia Oil Exports from the Persian Gulf • Exported to: – Europe & Japan – USA (12% of U.S. oil demand) PERSIAN GULF CITIES • Oil Wealth Rapid Urban Development DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES • World’s tallest building… DUBAI • Incredible shopping malls TURKEY • In Europe & Asia BOSPORUS STRAIT Europe Asia ISTANBUL • On the Bosporus – Old name: Constantinople – Center for Christianity until 1400s TURKEY’S CLIMATE • Mostly Mediterranean • No desert • Xlnt Agriculture Iran • Old name = “Persia” • 1979 Revolution – Relations with USA… • Trying to develop Nuclear Weapons? AFGHANISTAN • Desert & Mtns (25,000’) • Difficult to conquer or control Afghan People • Muslim, but not Arab – Pashto Language • Very Poor • Opium AFGHANISTAN HISTORY • Ruled by Taliban, 1990s – Permitted al-Qaeda training bases • Osama bin Laden founded/funded Al-Qaeda – From Saudi Arabia – Killed 2011 .