GEOG 100 Final - North Africa + Southwest Asia

Why is this region called the Middle East?

European-centric naming: Near East (Turkey) Middle East (Egypt, Arabia) Far East (Asia).

Region’s Crossroad location

Intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa

Physicial Characteristics:

Dry climate, deserts, scarce water. Rich in oil, poor in other things.

Deserts + Mountains

Sahara Desert, Negev Desert, Atlas Mountains

Oil Reserves:

60 percent of the worlds oil

Ancient Civilizations + Contributions:

Nile River Valley: pyramids, writings. Mesopotamia: cities, irrigation.

Rivers of ancient civilizations:

Nile, Tigris, Euphrates

Monotheistic religions from the region:

Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Islam: Origin and Tenets

Originated in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (610 A.D.)

Prophet Muhammad received revelations from Angel Gabriel

Five Pillars of Islam:

Profession of faith

Prayer (5 times/day)

Giving alms

Fasting during Ramadan

Hajj to Mecca

Branches of Islam:

Sunni (95%): Follow Abu Bakr

Shi’a: Follow Imam Ali

Exceptions to Islam's dominance

Israel (Judaism)

Lebanon, Ethiopia (Christianity)

Coptic Christians in Egypt

Areas occupied by Israel:

Since 1967 war: East Jerusalem, West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza (left in 2005)

Major Israel-Palestinian conflict issues:

Borders and statehood

Security arrangements

Refugees and right of return

Jerusalem claimed by both sides

Israeli settlements in the West Bank

Hamas control of Gaza

Peace attempts: Camp David Accords, Oslo Accords