Download Mid East Guide 1 - Tenafly High School

WHE: Cutrone/Huh
Middle East Study Guide
Test: Friday, January 23, 2009
Note: This guide includes most, but not all, of the material that we have covered about the
Middle East. Please remember to think back on in-class lessons and discussions, as well as
class notes, handouts, and homework assignments!
Also, focus on Chapters 1 and 2, and know the general main ideas from Chapter 3.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter One
Maps:
Countries of the Middle East
Arabs
Kurds
Armenians
Turks
Palestinians
Iranians
Israelis
* Middle East: the region that lies between Europe, distant parts of southwestern Asia, and
northern Africa.
* The Middle East is a strategic location because it commands vital sea routes; some of the
countries also sit atop oil reserves; it is an important place for military and economic reasons.
Oases: fertile desert areas that have enough water to support plant and animal life – where
people live around in the desert.
* The question of water rights is such a vital issue in the Middle East because demand grows
as the population expands; the high political tensions are heightened.
* There are 5 main regions in the Middle East:
- Northern Tier:
 Stretches across present day Turkey and Iran
 Mountains and plateaus
 Fertile soil – farming
 Large population
 Major empires
-
Fertile Crescent:
 From east Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf
 Rich soil, abundant water
 Big population
 Few natural barriers
 One of the earliest civilizations
 Problems: floods; irrigation can be difficult if rivers carry little water
-
Arabian Peninsula:
 1/3 the size of the U.S.
 Borders the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf
 Includes Saudi Arabia (largest nation)
 Small population
 Oil
 Problems: lack of water; barren desert
 Mecca
Nile Valley:
 Fertile land
 Protected by deserts
 Trading center
The Maghreb:
 North African nations of Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco
 Seemed isolated because it is surrounded by water, mountains, and deserts
 Scarce water
 Sahara and Atlas Mountains
 Along the coast, there are fertile soil and rain
 Trade
 Major crossroads
-
-
* Ten Major Geographic Characteristics of the Middle East:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Civilization began in the Middle East
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam began in the Middle East. They are world religions.
The Middle East is predominantly, but not exclusively, Islamic.
The Middle East is the “Arab World” but significant population groups are not of
Arab ancestry. (Turks, Jews, Iranians, Armenians…)
5. Population in the Middle East is widely dispersed in discontinuous clusters – spread
out unevenly
6. The natural environment is dominated by drought and unreliable rainfall.
7. The Middle East is a land bridge linking 3 continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.
8. The Middle East is a region of intense discord, bitter conflict, and political instability.
9. The Middle East has the largest oil reserves in the world (to date) – 65% of the
world’s petroleum.
10. Today the Middle East is an area of international concern because of
a. its strategic location
b. oil
c. the Arab-Israeli conflict
d. religion
e. terrorism
* Chart on the various ethnic groups of the Middle East (language, religion, location, historic
events/achievements)
Arable: land that can be used for farming
Desalination: converting sea water into fresh water for drinking and irrigation (p. 597)
Oil: the most valuable resource; unevenly distributed across the region; great economic
differences between countries with it and without it (p. 555)
Nomad: member of a hunting people who travel from place to place to find food (p. 28)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter Two
Messiah: one anointed by God
Torah (Judaism): the law, first 5 books
The Ten Commandments: ethical laws that urge people to respect and honor God; forbids
stealing, lying, cheating, and murder
The Gospels (Christianity)
Apostle (C)
Covenant: binding agreement (the Hebrews accepted God as the ruler of heaven and Earth
and God made the Hebrews the chosen people on Earth)
Sabbath: day of rest and worship
Passover (J)
“Promised Land”
Patriarchs: founding fathers of the Bible
Jesus of Nazareth: taught the poor about God’s goodness and mercy, as well as the belief in
one God and following the 10 commandments; believed by many to be the messiah
Diaspora: scattering of people (J)
Parable: a story that teaches a moral/lesson (many told by Jesus)
Martyr: one who suffers or dies for his beliefs
Basic Principals of Early Christians
- Jesus was the messiah
- Jesus was the son of god (divine)
- Jesus was the savior of humankind (crucified)
- Resurrection – Jesus is alive (Easter – 2 days before that is Good Friday)
See handout on “Sermon on the Mount”
The Hebrews migrate around 1800 B.C. from Canaan (Palestine) to Egypt
God makes the Hebrews the chosen people in his covenant with Moses
The term “Jews” comes from the land of “Judea”
The two greatest kings of ancient Israel: (What were each of them known for?)
- David
- Solomon
What happened to the Hebrews when foreign rulers conquered Israel:
(see notes from 12/22/08)
- Persians allowed them to return to Israel
- They revolted against the Romans and were forced out of Palestine
- Jews preserved religions and cultural traditions
Three groups who ruled over Palestine:
- Greeks
- Persians
- Romans
Major features of Judaism:
- Land - Judea
- The Temple
- Monotheistic
- Recorded their early history and religious laws of God (Torah)
- Believed they were the chosen people – Covenant with God
- Given the 10 commandments – ethical laws
- Individuals responsible for their actions – ethical monotheism
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter Three
Islam and the Middle East
Islam:
- Hejira: the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina
(Yathrib)
- The Five Pillars:
1. Belief in one god who revealed his message to Muhammad
2. Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca
3. Charity to the poor and the aged
4. Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
5. Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if able
- The Koran unites Muslims around the world because of the Arabic language
- Jews and Christians known as “people of the book” – they were to be treated with
tolerance by Muslims
- Rapid spread of Islam due to:
1. Arab armies united by their beliefs (warriors who died in service go to
paradise)
2. Islam was welcomed in many places and easily accepted
3. Conquered peoples wanted to avoid paying taxes for not being Muslim
-
Caliph: successor to the prophet
 Sunni and Shiite have a conflict over who should be caliph. Sunni only
wanted descendents of Ali; Sunni believed that any devout Muslim could
become caliph.
Groups who invaded the Middle East:
- Seljuks
- Mongols
- Crusaders
Ways of life in the Middle East:
- Village: small farming villages; most of the people; herding; included a mosque and
few stores; men and women have their own work
- Nomadic: due to the lack of water for farming in desert and plateaus; livestock; move
towards seasonal rains
- City: Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, Baghdad, Mecca; high walls to protect; dark
narrow streets and houses packed together; mosque as center of life
European imperialism affects the Ottoman Empire: posed as major challenges because
national groups were encouraged to seek independence
(see notes on “Imperialism and Nationalism from 1/14/09)
Ottoman Empire – downfall after World War I – stripped of Arab provinces by Allies
Saladin the “noble warrior”
Ottoman Empire and the diverse groups within it
Suleiman – greatest ruler of the Ottoman empire; justice and good government
(See chart from class, 1/14/09)
Mandate: territory that was administered but not owned by a member of the League of
Nations
Jewish and Arab peoples claim the right to live in Palestine
Pan-Arabism: sought to unite all Arabs based on their common language and culture
Obstacles to Pan-Arabism:
- many ethnic and religious groups opposed to the creation of an Arab state
- no geographic unity – scattered settlements
Civil War in Lebanon:
- causes: the constitution gave less power to the Muslims than to the Christians
- effects: Muslims given a greater say in the government; economy was destroyed and
thousands of people killed in fighting
Goals of the Islamist movement
- Return to the values of Koran and early Islamic traditions
- Shariah as the basis of law
- Restore authority to religious leaders
- Enforce strict separation of men and women in public places
Middle East and the Cold War
- U.S. and the Soviet Union compete for power in the Middle East because of oil and
control of waterways
- Soviet Unions backs communist rebels in Turkey; U.S. help it to resist Soviet
pressure (NATO)
- Increased concern over weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East
OPEC
- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi
Arabia with Venezuela – expands later to 11 members
- Power increases as the demand for oil increases
- Global effects of rising oil costs
- Recent drop in oil prices – less power of OPEC
Persian Gulf Wars
- Iran-Iraq War: because of oil and border disputes
- Persian Gulf War: Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait; UN supported U.S. going
against Iraq
Iran
-
-
Modernization: fueled by nationalism; used wealth from oil; improvement of
healthcare and education, new roads, industrial growth; religious leaders against
social reforms of giving women rights, such as the right to vote
Islamic revolution
Theocracy: government ruled by religious leaders
Economic patterns: economy slows after revolution; challenges – huge population of
young people who need educations and jobs; water shortages; price of oil declining
Recent trends: new leaders restore ties to western nations; tension between
traditionalists and reformers
Egypt
- President Nasser promotes Arab socialism – takes power of businesses and distributes
land evenly
- Borrow money from U.S. and Soviet union to fund projects such as dams
- Economic industries
- President Sadat (after Nasser) moves away from socialism
- He welcomes foreign investments and private businesses
- Makes peace with Irael
- President Mubarak (present day leader) tries to balance the economy and be cautious
in interacting with foreign countries