Download Middle East Essays Thomas Perskin Maritime innovations in late 16

Thomas Perskin
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Middle East Essays
Maritime innovations in late 16th/ early 17th centuries had large economic
impact
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Economic technologies still being developed /relied upon (oil drills)
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Military technologies have come into play more recently
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Stinger missiles used by Afghani rebels
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Nuclear arms race
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Technology outside of middle east has produced consumerist culture in the
United States/ West
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Islamic fundamentalists are against this consumerism: this has spurred
hatred towards the west
Corrin Offenholley
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The Ottoman Empire was an Islamic monarchy, and Islam was
used to legitimize the sultan.
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Overall, pre-Ottoman-Empire collapse, Islam was a force for stability.
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This changed after World War on, and when many Arabs tried to gain
independence from western imperial powers
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One major point of conflict has been the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
with many deaths in a conflict over, in many ways, Jerusalem, as Christians,
Muslims and Jews all have holy locations there.
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Also, Islam has been a major force for nationalism elsewhere in the
middle east. Examples include Iran and Egypt.
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In Iran, many Muslims felt that the Shah had been corrupted by
western moral perversion, and thus overthrew him and instituted a radical
fundamentalist government. Laws included the banning of dance, mandated
veils, and a reaffirmation of patriarchy.
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The Muslim brotherhood is another example of a nationalistic and
fundamentalist Islamic group. While Egypt was ruled by the military since
freeing itself from western control, recent political upheavals have put this
group in power.
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Overall, throughout the Middle East’s time since the 1450’s, Islam has
been a dominant political force, regardless of whether it was a force for
stability or a force for nationalism and instability.
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Miscellaneous notes: Egypt, while technically not Middle Eastern
country, is important to its culture and history nonetheless.
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Also, Arab nationalism wasn’t originally religious, but it certainly could
take that form.
Kyler Chase
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middle east still part of Ottoman Empire beginning of 20th century
Empire fell end of WWI, nation of Turkey formed
middle eastern countries put under watch of League of Nations countries
Reza Shah Pahlavi to power in 1925, tries to westernize Iran
efforts increase after his return in 1953 and the Europeans had left
created social and economic reforms, put forward some women’s rights
Islamic Fundamentalists outraged; remove the Shah in the 1979 Islamic
Revolution
Ayatollah Khomeini comes to power, rules Iran as theocracy
Iran still unstable today as reformists and fundamentalists struggle for power
Jews given homeland in Palestine in 1917, half a million Jews immigrate over
time
Israel created in 1948, attacked by Arabs the next day, Israel defeats attackers
fighting continued throughout 20th century and Israel still contested today
• Iraq gains independence in 1947 along with Jordan
• Iraq held under the power of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship. Invades Kuwait
1990
• UN forces put down invasion and capture Hussein in 2003
• fighting continues between Sunni, Shiites, and Kurds even though 2005
constitution
• Afghanistan stable throughout most of the 20th century; declared
independence 1919
• communist faction seized power during Cold War, but fought by Mujahideen
• Soviets invade 1980 but withdraw due to rebel resistance and internal issues in
USSR
• Taliban take power in 1996 after 14 years of fighting between rivaling factions
stabilize country, but house Al Qaeda members. removed from power after 9/11
by UN
Kevin Yoo
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common misconception that Muslim women lack rights because of their religion.
mostly due to local laws, culture.
before present day, Muslim women did not have a say in marriage, including
child custody and divorce.
even though a woman and a man have the same job, the woman gets paid back
less
required to stand separate from the man in religious gatherings.
guardianship in the Quar’an used to justify male dominance over females.
if a woman did not submit to the husband, she would be beaten and be even
returned to the martial home
if a woman did not submit to the husband, she would be beaten and be even
returned to the martial home
primary role of a woman in the Middle East is for her to be a good mother and
look over the housework
starting from modern times, Middle Eastern women have advocated for more
rights and freedom
protests and massive movements, speak out against discrimination, and for
freedom
gained access to education, politics, and professional jobs
illegal to abuse women and have been granted rights to divorce and to child
custody
new degree of freedom is revolutionary
woman’s literacy has grown tremendously and in some countries, women are
more likely to attend universities than men
access to the internet and journalism has made it easier
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social media has played a very big role in the feminist movement
still is a long way to go to achieve liberty for these women.