ES 1,2,3,4,5

Chapter 1


  1. What is a society?

a group of people who interact with one another and share culture.


>Society is a structure of organizations that are provided for people.

It can be defined as the set of values, customs, and traditions that are shared by a group of people that makes them distinguished from others.


> Factors of the Humanitarian Community:

- Species survival 

- Place

- Security 

- Living in the community and interacting with others


  1. What is a social structure? 

It refers to the pattern of social relationships. (the interactions between members of the society

- defined by cultural values

- providing guidelines within the cultural norms 


Upper class: pharaoh

Upper middle: government- officials- nobles- priests

Lower middle class: soldiers

Working class: merchants- scribes

Working poor: craftsmen

Underclass: farmers- slaves


  1. What are the elements of a social structure?

  • Culture تقاليد 

  • Social class  طبقة الاجتماعية

  • Social status حالة الاجتماعية

  • Roles الادوار

  • Groups مجموعات

  • Social institutions (مؤسسات إجتماعية)


  1. What is the oldest form of social organization? 

Family


Social organizations are of two types:

>grow out of blood lineage bond and kinship. (family)

>voluntary association of members based on free will and common interest. (friend)





♥😍

Other forms of human gatherings can be:

  • Friends 

  • Study/Work Groups 

  • Sports teams

  • Extended family 

  • The Crowd: a group of individuals met without planning on something and they have different backgrounds.

  • The Group: a group of individuals including some form of interaction and communication.

  • Primary groups: characterized by deep relationships.

  • secondary groups: have shallow relationships.


  1. Why do human beings need to gather in social groups?

encourage sharing and cooperation


  1. What is a coherent group /society?

refer to as the “glue” or the “bonds” that keep societies connected.


  1. What main features lead to the formation of a coherent human society?

  • Equal and full participation in civil and political life

  • Creating equal social and economic conditions and opportunities

  • Providing access to high quality education and improving knowledge of the state language

  • Preserving ethnic minorities' culture 

  • Promoting a tolerant environment.


  1. What is the importance of studying a society?

helps the individual to understand human society and how social systems work. 

 

>The community is very important in any individual’s life because:

  1. helps in forming their religious beliefs and values, ethics, and morals in young people and future generations.

  2. affects the emotions of people living in it.

  3. satisfy their needs and requirements. 

  4. creates the urge to search for innovation and creativity (it motivates the individuals to perform at their best)








Chapter 2


>What does Geography have to do with politics?

Political geography looks at how governments and countries are affected by their location.

  • Unlike rivers and mountains, these aren’t a part of the landscape.


Political geography is the study of how humans have divided up the Earth's surface for management and control purposes.


>The relationship between politics and places:

  • How boundaries are made x

  • the size of a country affects how powerful it is 

  • How natural resources are distributed around the world affects trade and war

  • It’s NOT just theoretical: the design of constituencies for elections  (.تصميم الدوائر الانتخابية).





Geographical Features of the UAE 


  • Location: Arabian Gulf.

  • Borders: It is bordered by the Gulf from the (north and northwest), by Qatar from the (west) & KSA from the (West and South), Oman and the Gulf of Oman from the (East).

  • UAE’s coastline is 644 km stretching from the Qatar Peninsula(شبه جزيرة) in the west, to Ras Musandam in the east. (P—>M) 644km

  • Area:The total area of the UAE is 77,700 square kms(same),and the total area of the State including the islands amounts to 83,600 sq.km. 

  • it is the third largest in area among the GCC countries after KSA & Oman. 

  •  Features: 

  1. Internal Desert :Most of the country is desert land, particularly the internal Eastern areas. 

  2. The Oases:There are some well known oases such as AlAin and surrounding areas. The underground water is formed because of Jabal Hafeet (1220 ft).Its water is distributed, Through an irrigation network called aflaj which reaches the slopes of the northern area in RAK. 

  3. Mountain Series: Another mountain series known as Jabal Hafeet and Jabal al-Hajar which reaches 80 km. crossing Oman and dividing Musandam Peninsula

  4. Coastal Areas:. Most of the coastal areas are sandy, with the exception of the mountainous Musandam Peninsula.

  • The Gulf regional water is generally shallow, with an average depth of 35 m. apart from the Hormuz Straits where the depth is 145 m, the deepest in the area.

  • The water in the Gulf is the hottest in the world, it could reach 45 degrees. In spite of the water’s high salinity, it is rich with fish. 

  • Coral reefs,which are rich in shells of pearls, are found in the Gulf but sometimes form a hindrance to navigation  

  • The UAE comprises hundreds of islands spread along the Gulf, 200 of which belong to Abu Dhabi, the most important are Das, Delma & Umm al-Nar. Another important island lie near RAK like Tonb Assogra & Tonb al Kubra. 

  • The UAE climate lies within the dry tropical area extending across Asia and North Africa. It has excessive heat and increased humidity in summer but has varied temperatures in coastal & hilly areas. 

  • Rainfall is little, but the amount of evaporation is 20 times the amount of rainfall due to excessive heat. Rain increases in the hilly and mountainous areas. The Emirates climate has two seasons:

  1. The Rainy season (October to March ) 10-3

  2. Summer season (April to September) 4-9



THE EMIRATES OF THE STATE

  1. Abu Dhabi

  • (86.77%) total area, excluding the islands. 

  • 70% of its land is desert land. 

  • The capital of the eastern side is Al Ain. 

  • There are 200 islands which belong to the Emirates, the most famous is Bani Yas which is converted to a natural reservation.


  1. Dubai

  • It is bordered by the Gulf from the West, Sharjah from the North and East, and Abu Dhabi from the South. 

  • Its area is about 5% of the total area of the UAE.

  • The bay divides the city into 2 parts: Bur Dubai and Deira, linked together by Al Maktoom Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Shandaga Tunnel.


  1. Sharjah

  • is situated in a central location. 

  • Kelba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba lie on the Gulf of Oman and belong to Sharjah.

  • Sharjah’s area is 2590 sq. kms. and represents 3.3% of the state, excluding the islands.



  1. Ajman

  • Ajman is the smallest emirate. 

  • It is located on the Arabian Gulf. 

  • It controls 2 small inland enclaves Manama and Masfut. Both are primarily agricultural.(0.7%)



  1. Umm al-Quwain

  • Lies on the Arabian Gulf extending between the West of Sharjah & the East of Ras al-Khaimah. 

  • Its total area is (1%) of the total area of the UAE, excluding the islands. 

  • Filj al-Mualla is an agricultural area 


  1. Ras al- Khaimah

  • Its total area equal to (2.2%)of the total area of the UAE. 

  • It is situated on the farthest end of the Eastern part of the Arab World. 

  • It has a long border with Oman in the South and North East. 


  1. Fujairah

  • Lies on the Eastern Coast on the Gulf of Oman bordering Ras al-Khaimah and the Sultanate of Oman. 

  • Its total area is about (1.5%) of the total area of the UAE. 

  • It comprises of rough mountains lying between the Gulf of Oman and the Batnah Plain which is considered the most fertile area in the State. 

  • It contains several valleys of which Siji Valley & Ham Valley are the most famous.


>>> How did the mineral wealth of the UAE affect the economy of the country?

answer :


  • the salt pans that extend far inland

  • Due to which water resources are rare 95% of the UAE's economy is based on exports

  • Sand dunes in abu dhabi 


Bas . 


 compared to the oil and natural gas resources.. Apart from that tourism is also one of the biggest sectors that contributes to the economy.













   Chapter 3

  • Before the discovery of oil, the Emirati society was a nomadic and maritime society (associated with the desert and the sea) .

  • After the discovery of oil, the industrial environment came into existence.


  1. The Desert Environment:

  • The desert covers 2/3 of the Emirates.This environment enforces its lifestyle.

  • desert : grazing their cattle. 

  • Oases: farming.

  • Coastal: fishing.


The Bedouins of the Emirates:

  • Migrant Bedouins who occupy massive areas & move from one place to the other.They work in grazing animals. (Awamer & Manseer.) AM

  • Semi-Migrant Bedouins who swing between nomadic and settlement lifestyles. Most settle near the oases and water-centered plains. During the dry season,they move to the oases and take on farming & fishing. (Beni Qatab & Awamer.) BM

  • The Seasonal Migrants move to the top of the mountain in summer and to the plains in winter. (Al Shohooh in RAK and Dibba.)


The Effect of the Desert on the Bedouins:

  • The migrant lifestyle gives them a sense

    of independence, love of freedom, bravery(in resisting

    foreign invasion), high self-esteem, honesty,  

   religiousness & Islamic values.  


  1. The Sea Environment:

  • Ships grew larger & faster, and stopped relying on sails. 

  • People acquired more active maritime skills with the practice of navigation as indicated by the ruins at Um alNar Island and Al Qasis area.



  1. The Effect of Sealife on Society

  • The Emirates is strategically situated between the East & West. It had strong trade links with South Asia and Eastern Africa. Ibn Majed, the famous sailor and astrologer, crossed the Gulf to East African coasts.

  • The two seasons:

  • The travel season (Safar) 

  • the Pearl Diving season (Ghous).






  1. The Effect of Sea Life on Trade

  • Building ships (teek wood,candles and ropes were brought from India,& other associated industries such as sails & nets)

  • Diving for pearls (Ghous) as a traditional trade & major source of income..

  • Due to scarcity of food, people turned to Fishing for food & animal feed and fertilizer.

  • Trading & commerce with Africa & Asia. 

The pearl trade took place in Dubai, Bahrain and Mumbai.The estimated market value of pearls in the UAE in 1905 was about eight million rupees.


  1. Common Sea Life Trade

The Pearl diving represented a major source of income

  1. Finance Suppliers who prepare the fishing fleet and support the divers’ families in their absence.

  2. Working category:  

  1.  all workers on the ship besides the captain (Nokhatha); the head of the group of divers and others on the ship. He is the navigator and the one with extensive knowledge about pearling. who knew all pearling areas. 

  2. Divers 

  3. Shiyou: who pull the ropes & lift divers 

  4. Attban or young apprentices.



      d) The Effects of Diving on Emirati Society

  1. Shopping markets boomed before & after the diving season. 

  2. a word of honor was accepted to complete a business transaction. 

  3. Family members were many,and they all obeyed and respected the head of the family.

  4. Seafaring & diving were expressed in various forms of art, literature, songs, proverbs, & children’s games.


Pearl-diving

This practice is no longer in practice today primarily because of the oil exploration in the region

 sudden oil wealth that requires less hard work

 

        3) The Industrial Environment & its Characteristics

  The discovery of oil in the 30s of the 20th century caused a drastic change in the life and economy 

  • Some important characteristics of this change were observed such as:

  1. Building bigger cities and the moving the Bedouins to urban areas.

  2. Migration from Arab countries and the formation of non-Arab minorities increased.

  3. new markets and work firms.

  4. Everything (work, education…) began to be shared by women.

  5. The spread of culture and it’s effects on formulating individual values.

  6.  The spread of education.

  7. The increase of individual income.


Cultural Factors

  • Social heritage (individual acquires characteristics) can be divided into 2 parts: 

  1.  The material side of civilization which includes tangible things we perceive through our senses, such as buildings, clothes, machines & means of transport. 

(Civilization)

  • buildings means of transport 

  • clothes 

  • streets 

  • food 

  • amenities

  1. The non-material side of culture which includes religion, language, customs, and various social values and regulations.

(Culture)

  • Habits

  •  Customs

  •  traditions 

  • Religion

  •  language 

  • social rules


cultural challenges it faces a struggle between appreciating the originality of the forefathers and westernization.

habits customs traditions religion language social rules

  1. Religion

  • it provides stability of the individual & the society.

  1. Language 

  • it is the historical record of a society’s culture.The best way to study a society is to study its language.

  •  it is the means of thought and social communication. 

  • the local vernacular contains many foreign words coming from English, Hindi, French, African & other, as a result of overseas communication. 

  1. Tradition

  2. Customs 

  3. Literature and the Arts

  1. Music & Folk dancing

  • the oldest form of “Al hidda” is the topic of many popular songs

  • Folk dancing is deeply rooted in the custom & traditions of society.”Al Arda”,

  1. Fine and Applied Arts

  •  Paintings such as shopping in the souk, knitting fishing nets, building ships, weddings, buildings, council meetings, fishing and hunting.

  • Ornamentation of jewelry “Al hama”

  • Embroidery 

  • Adorning baskets 

  • Tents 

  • Desks & writing tables 

  • Colorful painting of doors 

  • Parts of the ship and houses.

  1. Folk Literature 

  • Poetry.

  • Proverbs & sayings. 

  • Riddles and anecdotes.


The Originality of the UAE Heritage

The originality of the Emirates society is affected by three factors which have defined the parameters (limits that affect how things can be done) which the society lives by: 

  • The conservative approach 

  • The union 

  • The development 


Major characteristics of the UAE society 

  1. Language as a unifying factor 

  2.  Religious unity

  3. Human Homogeneity

  4. Historical and fate unity

  5. The geographical unity

  6. Unity of Customs and Traditions 

  7. Similarity in the Political Structure



Chapter 4


The current Federal State of the United Arab Emirates is not the first experiment of this kind in the region. There were previous experiments of unity. These are: 

  1. 1952-1960:

  • Unify the UAE coast of Oman including the British Project in 1952 which came to serve their interests and plans. 

  • It succeeded for a while and then came the experience between the Emirates of Sharjah and Fujairah in 1960. It failed after a few months because it was not consistent with the British interests in the region.

(لأنه لا يتوافق مع المصالح البريطانية في المنطقة.)


  1. 1968-1970:

After the British withdrawal from the Gulf in 1968, the rulers of the Emirates started to think of creating a union. This idea passed through different stages:

  • Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

  • Feb. 18th 1968 

  • The outcome of this meeting was the signing of the bilateral agreement between the rulers after almost one month of the British withdrawal.

This agreement had two important points: 

  1. To configure a federation that contains the two Emirates and it is responsible for the defense, foreign affairs, security, health, education and other issues in the federation. 

  2. The approval of both rulers to invite the rulers of other emirates to discuss and participate in the union and then invite the rulers of Qatar and Bahrain to discuss the future of the region.

  • Nine members union

  • Feb. 27th 1968 

  • This agreement included the seven emirates in addition to Qatar and Bahrain.  

  • The union aimed to strengthen cooperation among the united countries and ensure the stability in the region.  

  • The majority of Arab countries announced their support for the nine members union but it also faced strong opposition by some countries such as   Algeria ,Yemen, and Syria. (because of they thought it was a plan from the british)

  • There were several reasons for the failure of this union:

  1. Ambiguity of the Union convection as it stated the union between the emirates but at the same time it asserted the independence of each Emirate.(ينص على أن كل إمارة لها استقلاليتها حتى بعد الاتحاد)

  2. Qatar and Bahrain declared their independence after the failure of the negotiations. 


  1. 1971:

  • July 18, 1971 the Interim Constitution(الدستور المؤقت) of the Federation of the United Arab Emirates was issued, and Abu Dhabi was declared as the Capital of the Federation  

  • The Union started with six emirates and Ras Al Khaimah joined a few months later  

  • There were some problems that faced the union:

  1. Iran took over three of the Gulf Islands on the first day of the Union.

  2. The problem of borders with neighboring countries.

  3. The problem of immigration and population imbalance.

  • There were some challenges taken by the state:

  1. The settlement of the nomads (Bedouins) through providing suitable accommodation for them in the pursuit of social development. This was accompanied by improving the desert.

  2. Raising the levels of education and knowledge proceeding from the importance of knowledge and science in civilizations. 


The beginning of the 19th century saw the emergence of Arab tribal powers in the Gulf. Two influential Arab powers emerged: 

  • Bani Yas Tribe (AlNahyan and Maktoum are the descendants of this tribe) managed to control the lower part of the Gulf where Abu Dhabi and Dubai were established. ( southern part of the UAE )

  • Al Maktoum, which is in charge of Dubai Emirate.

  • ​​Al-Ain and Abu Dhabi regions, which are under the control of the Al Nahyan clan.

  • al-Falasi


  • Al Qawasim Tribe, They formed a marine power whose activities spread inside the Indian Ocean. ( northern section of the UAE )

  • The emirates of Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah. 

  • They became more powerful in the 19th century to the extent that all the European colonizers had to sign some pacts with them over the control of some parts of the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. 


 Constitutional Institution in the UAE:

  1. Federal Supreme Council: is the highest authority in the country composed of rulers of Emirates and each emirate has one vote. 

  2. President of the Federation and his Deputy: They are elected from the members of the Supreme Council. The position lasts for five years and may be renewed.

  3. Federal Council of Ministers 

  4. Federal National Council : it has 40 members representing the seven Emirates.

  5. Judicial Authority: it includes: 

  1. Federal Supreme Court                                           المحكمة الاتحادية العليا

  2. Court of Appeal                                                              محكمة الاستئناف  

  3. Federal Court of First Instance                            المحكمة الاتحادية الابتدائية

  4. Local Courts (Civil and Legitimacy)           ( المحاكم المحلية (المدنية والشرعية


The National Document forms a method for action in the next few years, specifically till 2021(before reaching half a century since the Union was formed). 

  • It is a strategic road map asserting the Islamic and Arab roots of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the ancient sacred heritage of the people.

  • The document affirmed the necessity of providing for the UAE’s needs.

  • It asserted the national identity of the UAE.





















Chapter 5          


The UAE is keen on establishing its foreign relations with the outside world on four main circles:

  • Cooperation with the Arab World: 

  1. The Gulf circle:

  • Relationships with the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf countries are based on solid foundations based on common religious ties, kinship, neighborhood, same life circumstances, and interests. 

(kuwait, bahrain, qatar, oman, saudi arabia, iraq)

  1. The Arab League:

  • based on cooperation and depth of UAE’s Arab connections, support of Arab causes and interests, commitment to the Charter of the Arab League, exchange of visits, financial support and participation in Arab summit conferences.

  • Manifestations of strong relationship with arab countries.

  • a desire to maintain good neighborliness with its Arab partners – insisting on non-interference in internal issues while working towards the agreeable resolution of disputes.

(Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen)

  1. Islamic Countries:

  • mutual visits, contributing to vital projects in Islamic countries and providing financial assistance, participation in conferences and summits.

  1. With Countries of the World:

  • The UAE joined the United Nations

  • The UAE is member number 132 in the UN

  • Participation in international conferences and activities of the international community and its affiliated organizations.

  • The UAE has joined sub-organizations and specialized agencies stemming from the United Nations:

  1. UNESCO.

  2. The International Organization of Justice. 

  3. The World Health Organization.

  4. The International Red Cross Organization.

  5. The Universal Postal Union.

  6. The International Bank for Reconstruction & Development.

  • The UAE has taken an active role in the clearance of minefields in Southern Lebanon and in providing assistance to brotherly and friendly countries during and after wars and earthquakes, e.g. the 2004 tsunami in East and South Asia, and the earthquakes in Iran and Haiti in January 2010.


  • Issues of Internal & External Security

  1. The British colonized the Gulf region for more than one and a half centuries(150+) and were the protectors of the Arab side of the Gulf. 

  2. The establishment of the Union and the declaration of independence put the UAE and the Arab Gulf countries in front of their responsibilities; and mainly the Gulf security.

  3. A consensus of opinion revealed that the real danger to the security of the Gulf is represented by: 

  • First, the western military existence which raises and nurtures degrees of tension in the region.

  • Secondly, the risk of migration which affects the national economy and changes the identity of societies in the Gulf.