Middle East

Lesson 1: Middle East History

Cradle of Civilization

  • Agricultural Revolution: when hunter and gatherers discovered how domesticate plants and animals

    • shift from nomadic lifestyles to permanent settlements

  • Cradle of Civilization/Fertile Crescent: area where 2 large civilizations arose out of the river deltas found here

  • Mesopotamia: one of the world’s first cultural hearths and was located between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Rich alluvial soils from the rivers support agriculture on the plains

    • “Land Brown Rivers”

  • Sumerians: developed in Mesopotamia 5500 years ago. Were able to create irrigation systems that used canals to water their fields for all-year crop growing

    • had achievements in early forms of wedge shaped writing, cuneiform code of law, and math

  • Egyptians: created sophisticated irrigation systems that allowed them to irrigate crops

    • government spanned nearly 2600 years under a strong king

  • Pharaohs: similar to absolute monarchs and were worshipped like Gods by the people

    • led the first Egyptian dynasty

    • created a system of communication through hieroglyphics and created a calendar

  • Egyptians were also skilled in math and science

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  • Still an issue today

  • Palestine is often called “Holy Land”

  • In 1984, Palestine became part of Israel

  • This area is important to Jews, Catholics, and Muslims

Ancient Israel

  • Canaan: a region that would be modern-day Palestine that Jewish tribes settled in

  • Rulers united all tribes into the Kingdom of Israel and made Jerusalem the capital

  • Jewish Diaspora: conquests that reduced Jewish population and scattered Jews

Muslim Rule

  • Crusades: by the 11th century, Muslim rulers battled European Christians for territory

  • From the 1500s to 1917, Palestine was part of the Muslim Ottoman Empire

British Mandate and Post-War Conflicts

  • Palestine came under British forces during WWI

  • Soon after WWII, armed conflicts broke out among Jewish and Arab ethnic groups in the area

  • thousands of Jewish Holocaust survivors wanted to settle in this area

  • United Nation commissioned a solution: an Arab state and a Jewish state

    • Arabs rejected this, but by 1948, Israel was created as a homeland for the Jews

  • Balfour Declaration: says that the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jews

  • Zionism: the idea that Jews should call for a permanent Jewish state

    • lots of European Jews supported this

Arab Springs

  • Arab Springs: explains the revolutionary demonstrations/protests that arose in 2010

  • Began in a street market by a Tunisian man

  • protests and demonstrations were filmed and spread to neighboring countries through social media

  • many joined this movement because they believed their governments were unfair, corrupt, or dishonest

  • By 2012, most governments had been defeated and replaced or stopped the protests

  • some were not successful, and it led to increased political instability, tensions, and oppression

Lesson 2: The Environment

  • Climate: mostly hot and dry, with very little rainfall, high evaporation rate, and limited freshwater resources

  • Sahara Desert: the largest hot desert in the world, covering most of North Africa and stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea

  • Water Scarcity: a lack of available freshwater in a region with little rainfall and high evaporation

  • Aswan High Dam: a dam built on the Nile River to control flooding, generate electricity, and provide year-round irrigation

  • Desalination: the process of removing salt from sea water to create freshwater

  • Sahel: a semi-arid transition zone between the Sahara Desert and the savannas of Africa

  • Lake Nasser: a large reservoir created by the Aswan High Dam that stores water for irrigation and power

  • Great Green Wall: a project in Africa that plants trees across the Sahel to stop desertification and improve land use

  • Drip Irrigation: A water-saving farming method that slowly delivers water directly to plant roots

  • Libya’s Great Manmade River: a massive pipeline project in Libya that transports underground water from the Sahara to coastal cities and farms

  • Oil: the most abundant resource found in the Middle East

  • Anatolian Project: a Turkish development project that uses dams on the Tigris and Euphrates for hydroelectric power and irrigation

  • Oasis: a fertile area in a desert where water is found, allowing farming and settlement

  • Camels: animals known as the “ships of the desert” that made trade across the Sahara possible

  • Nile River: the world’s longest river and the foundation of ancient Egyptian civilization

  • Tigris and Euphrates: two rivers that form Mesopotamia and support early civilizations in the Middle East

  • Arabian Peninsula: a large, arid landmass at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe that encourages trade and cultural exchange

  • Sinai Peninsula: a land bridge between Africa and Asia that has historically allowed migration, trade, and invasion


Lesson 3: Living in North Africa

Overview

  • History begins with early hunters and gatherers settling into communities and domesticating plants and animals

  • Egyptian civilization flourished along the Nile River

    • They benefited from fertile soil created by annual flooding and became a significant cultural hearth

  • In 600s, Arab armies invaded, spreading Islam

    • Known as Bedouins

    • Remained in control until the Ottomans arrived in 1500s

  • By 1700s, European powers gained influence, colonizing the area for its natural resources

    • Known as the “Scramble for Africa”

  • Post-independence, North Africa faced coups, dictatorships, and economic struggles

  • European Influence:

    • France: Algeria and Morocco

    • Libya: Italy

    • Egypt: Great Britain

Economy

  • Has been agricultural based, but oil has been the leading product

  • Most agricultural is found in an oasis or along the Mediterranean coast, where there is more rainfall

  • Rainfall is consistent, so there is a reliance on important food

  • They have a fishing industry

  • Many natural resources were exploited by Europeans

  • Oil and natural gas have been a great source of wealth and economic prosperity

  • Suez Canal: critical to Egypt’s economy; generates over $9 billion annually; considered a chokepoint, enabling shorter trade routes

  • Tourism is large, especially in Egypt because of its historical sites and religious areas

  • Souks (market places): central for life, bustling with activity and bartering for clothes, spices, and food

    • Lively, hubs of commerce and culture

    • Marrakesh, Morocco, is famous for vibrant souks where shoppers bargain fiercely

Geographic

  • Berbers: indigenous peoples; lived as nomads that wandered the deserts before Arab invaders

    • They maintain traditional religion and non-Arabic language

  • People of North Africa are a mix of indigenous people and Arab

  • Hot and dry climate, with world's largest desert, the Sahara

  • Population:

    • Highest population clusters are found along Mediterranean coast and the Nile River Valley

    • Nile River Valley is densely populated and 90% of Egyptians reside here

  • France has many migrants from their former colonies

Social Structure

  • Religion: predominantly Islam

    • Bedouins brought Islam to North Africa

  • Language:

    • In order to read the Quran, many had to learn Arabic

    • French is widely spoken in Algeria and Morocco

  • Education:

    • Literacy Rate: 70-80%

    • Kids are required to go to school from ages 6-15

    • Schools focus on STEM

    • College rates are rising

  • Life Expectancy: 70-75 years old 

  • Family:

    • Patriarch: many homes are centered around men

    • Women have the right to divorce and men are only allowed to have 1 wife

  • Women’s Rights:

    • Women’s roles have been changing recently

    • Women are beginning to receive better pay for the same quality of work as men

  • Rai: one of the most popular music genres in Algeria


Lesson 4: Arabian Peninsula

Overview

  • Hostile climate; made of deserts

  • Inhabitants lived in tribes organized around family ties, with nomads moving around throughout

    • Tribes had no government

  • Most governments are some form of monarchy

    • A few absolute monarchies remain and others are constitutional monarchies

  • Was never really controlled by outside forces

  • Yemen is a failed state. Their government collapsed and is facing a civil war

Economy

  • Has rapidly undergone an extensive economic transformation because of oil

  • Before 1900s, it was mostly Bedouins who lived nomadically

  • Bazaars: traditional market places to buy, sell, and trade goods

  • Turning point in economy was when an American petroleum geologist discovered a massive oil field on the coast in the 1930s

    • Began to rapidly industrialize and urbanize

      • Became wealthy overnight

  • Many local foreign workers (Europeans and Americans) were invited to fill jobs and were trained to work

  • OPEC plays a crucial role in regulating global oil markets

  • Experiences challenges in agriculture due to limited arable land and scarce rainfall

  • To address water scarcity → efficient farming techniques

    • They have taken oil revenue and have done irrigation projects

  • Water is region’s most critical natural resource challenge

    • Solution: true desalination, but it is costly

      • They are the largest users of desalination

  • Countries have shifted economy to save natural resources

Geographic

  • Population: most live along coasts because of deserts

  • Urbanization: 85% lives in an urban center; major urban areas are on coasts

Social Structure

  • Language:

    • Arabic

    • English is used formally

  • Religion: birthplace of Islam

  • Healthcare: 

    • universal healthcare (except Yemen)

    • Healthcare is funded by oil funds and revenue

  • Life Expectancy:

    • 75 years

    • United Arab Emirates is higher

    • Yemen is lower

  • Education:

    • Separate gender schools

    • Women don’t receive high education

  • Socializing is segregated between men and women and women have to cover up


Lesson 5: Eastern Mediterranean

Overview

  • Crossroad between Europe, Asia, and Africa

  • Complex political and religious conflict

  • Lots of cultural exchange

  • Governements

    • Israel and Lebanon: Democratic

    • Jordan: Constitutional Monarchy

    • Syria: Centralized Authority

  • Palestine is divided into the West Bank and Gaza Strip

    • Ongoing political issues

Economy

  • Does not focus on oil

  • Israel has a very diversified economy

    • Global leader in cybersecurity, tech startups, and high-tech manufacturing

  • Primary:

    • Focus on agriculture

    • Israel’s most advanced in agricultural technology

    • Wheat, barley, olives, citrus fruits, figs, dates, vegetables, legumes, tomatoes, lentils, and thyme

    • Many farmers use drip irrigation

  • High service industry

  • Tourism:

    • Rich history, religious significance, natural beauty, and beaches draw people in

    • Many tourists stay away due to political instability, conflicts, and security concerns

Geographic

  • Most densely populated region in the middle east

  • Population density: majority lives near coastal and mountainous regions

  • Relatively urbanized

  • Diversity: religious and ethnic diversity due to religious influence and migration patterns

  • There is a resource strain because of refugees

    • Political instability results in an influx of refugees from nearby counties

Social Structure

  • Most religiously diverse

  • Language:

    • Arabic

    • Israel → Hebrew

    • English and French are popular 2nd languages

  • Education: 

    • public school is free but some pay for private school

    • Mandatory for kids until 15

    • Variety of subjects

  • Literacy Rate: most counties are 95%, but Syria lags slightly behind

  • Life Expectancy: 

    • Israel → near 83

    • Palestine and Jordan → 73

  • Religion:

    • Birthplace of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity

    • They share the same holy territory (Jerusalem)

  • Traditional/Modern Differences: 

    • Technological activities are seen but segregation are the dining experience can be seen as traditional

    • There is Western influence

    • Blend of old and new

  • There is usually an area for males to dine and a separate area for females to dine

  • Women’s Rights: equal rights and actively participate in education, workforces, and politics

  • Leisure Activities: reflects cultural and richness of the area


Lesson 6: Northeast

Overview

  • History dates back 1000s of years

  • Started with Sumerians and was followed by the Babylonian, Persian, and Ottoman Empires

    • Lived in Mesopotamia

  • Collapse of the Ottomans led to the formation of Turkey after WWI

  • Iraq experiences political instability

  • Governments

    • Turkey: Republican Parliamentary Democracy

      • NATO member by culturally aligns with the middle east

    • Iraq: Federal Parliamentary Republic

      • US troops have been on ground here for decades

    • Iran: Islamic Republic

      • Ruled by a supreme leader and aligns with religion

Economy

  • Iraq’s economy is dependent on oil

  • Both Iraq and Iran’s economy generates lots of money from oil

  • Turkey has a diversified economy

    • There are limited amounts of oil

    • Cherries, hazelnuts, figs, olives, and pistachios

Geographic

  • Most diverse ethnically

  • Ethnicity:

    • Turkey → Turks

    • Iran → Iranians

    • Iraq → Arabs

  • This region has a large population over 30

Social Structure

  • Language:

    • Stems back to ancestral homeland

    • Iraq → Arabic

    • Iran → Farsi

    • Turkey → Turkish

    • Kurds → Kurdish

  • Religion:

    • Islam

  • Ziggurats: large, mud-brick temples that were believed to connect heaven and earth

  • Rugs:

    • Large part of Islam

    • Rugs can sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars



Religion

  • All start from Abraham

  • Judaism

    • Religion of the Hebrews

    • Known as the Jews

    • Sects include Orthodox and Reformed

    • Believes in Yahweh

    • Still waiting on prophet

    • Texts include Torah and Talmud

  • Christianity

    • Founded by Jesus Christ

    • Known as the Christians

    • Sects include Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy Protestant

    • Believes in One God who is a trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

    • Jesus Christ is the prophet

    • Texts include the Bible

  • Islam

    • Founded by Muhammed

    • Known as the Muslims

    • Sects include:

      • Sunni: anyone can lead

      • Shi’ite: direct family of Muhammad can lead

    • Believes in Allah

    • Muhammad is the Prophet

    • Texts include the Qur’an