Arabian Penninsula Flashcard Set

Study Guide: Middle East History and Current Affairs

Major Themes

1. The Islamic Faith: Core Principles and Regional Influence

• Core Principles:

  • Shahada (Faith): Declaration of faith.

  • Salat (Prayer): Ritual prayers five times a day.

  • Zakat (Charity): Giving alms to the needy.

  • Sawm (Fasting): Fasting during Ramadan.

  • Hajj (Pilgrimage): Pilgrimage to Mecca.

• Regional Influence:

  • Shaped legal systems (Sharia law).

  • Influenced art, architecture, and societal norms.

  • Predominant in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia.

2. Sunnis and Shiites: Origins of the Division and Its Continuing Influence

• Origins:

  • Dispute over Prophet Muhammad's successor.

  • Sunnis: Community should select the leader (Abu Bakr).

  • Shiites: Leadership should stay within the Prophet’s family (Ali).

• Continuing Influence:

  • Different religious practices and theological doctrines.

  • Political and social tensions, e.g., Iran-Iraq War, Syrian conflict.

  • Regional power dynamics: Saudi Arabia (Sunni) vs. Iran (Shiite).

3. The Ottoman Empire’s Rule Over the Middle East Region Before World War I

• Ottoman Rule:

  • Controlled the Middle East from the 16th century until WWI.

  • Multi-ethnic empire including modern Turkey, Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, Southeast Europe.

• Administration:

  • Provinces (vilayets) governed by appointed officials.

  • Centralized bureaucratic system with some religious and cultural autonomy.

• Impact:

  • Decline led to nationalism and independence movements.

  • Post-WWI European colonial mandates shaped modern Middle Eastern states.

4. The Middle East and Western Powers: How Europe and the US Have Intervened in Regional Affairs (with Mixed Results)

• Colonialism and Mandates:

  • Post-WWI Sykes-Picot Agreement divided the Middle East.

  • British and French control over Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine.

• Cold War Influence:

  • US and Soviet Union vied for influence, backing different regimes and movements.

  • US allies: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran (pre-1979). Soviet allies: Egypt, Syria.

• Recent Interventions:

  • Gulf War, Afghanistan invasion, Iraq War.

  • Mixed results: prolonged conflicts, instability, criticism of motives.

5. Arab-Israeli Wars & Diplomacy

• Wars:

  • 1948 War: Establishment of Israel, Arab states' attack, Palestinian displacement.

  • 1956 Suez Crisis: Conflict over Suez Canal.

  • 1967 Six-Day War: Israel's territorial gains.

  • 1973 Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria's attack, eventual Israeli success.

• Diplomacy:

  • Camp David Accords (1978): Peace between Israel and Egypt.

  • Oslo Accords (1993): Framework for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

  • Ongoing challenges to a comprehensive resolution.

6. Challenges in Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Dispute

• Core Issues:

  • Disputed borders.

  • Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

  • Competing claims over Jerusalem.

  • Right of return for Palestinian refugees.

• Political Obstacles:

  • Internal Palestinian divisions.

  • Hardline factions in Israel.

  • Fluctuating international support.

  • Cycles of violence and mistrust.

7. The Influence of Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East Since 1970

• Rise of Fundamentalism:

  • Iranian Revolution (1979) established a theocratic regime.

  • Rise of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, ISIS.

• Impact:

  • Challenged secular governments.

  • Influenced political discourse and engaged in terrorism.

  • Regional and global security concerns.

8. How Oil/Natural Gas Has Influenced Middle Eastern Nations

• Economic Impact:

  • Transformed economies, especially in the Gulf.

  • Nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar experienced rapid development.

• Geopolitical Influence:

  • Energy resources provided significant geopolitical leverage.

  • Oil used as a political tool (e.g., 1973 oil embargo).

• Challenges:

  • Economic vulnerability to price fluctuations.

  • Environmental concerns.

  • Need for economic diversification.

9. The Rise of Dictatorship & Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East

• Historical Context:

  • Post-colonial states saw the rise of authoritarian regimes.

  • Leaders like Saddam Hussein, Hafez al-Assad, Muammar Gaddafi.

• Consequences:

  • Human rights abuses, stifled political freedoms, economic mismanagement.

  • Resistance movements and uprisings, such as the Arab Spring.

10. Effects of the 2011 Arab Spring Uprisings

• Initial Outcomes:

  • Mass protests and uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.

  • Fall of regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen.

• Long-Term Impact:

  • Tunisia transitioned to a relatively stable democracy.

  • Other countries experienced civil war, political instability, authoritarian resurgence.

• Regional Dynamics:

  • Influenced regional politics, exacerbated sectarian divides, reshaped alliances.

  • Highlighted demands for political participation, economic opportunities, and social justice.

Supplementary Topics

Arabian Peninsula Test Study Guide

Topic #1: History of Saudi Arabia to 1990

• The Saud Dynasty:

  • Established small state near Riyadh, linked to Wahhabi movement.

  • Unification of Saudi Arabia:

    • Abdulaziz Al Saud unified Saudi Arabia with British assistance.

    • 1925: Control of Mecca, 1932: Kingdom proclaimed.

• Discovery of Oil:

  • 1938: Oil found at Dammam Well Number 7.

  • ARAMCO established, providing wealth to the government and Al Saud family.

• Key Figures:

  • King Abdulaziz, King Saud, King Faisal, King Khalid.

Topic #2: Saudi Arabia Since 1990

• The Persian Gulf War:

  • Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and threat to Saudi Arabia.

  • US and Allied forces' involvement.

• Islam & the Saudi Royal Family:

  • Criticism of allowing foreign troops.

  • Rise of Crown Prince Abdullah, less pro-Western stance.

• Saudi Arabia and 9/11:

  • Majority of hijackers were Saudis.

  • Controversial links to terrorist figures.

• Current Leadership:

  • King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS).

Topic #3: The Gulf States of Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain

• Commonalities:

  • Wealth from oil/natural gas, British protectorates, small size, large foreign worker populations, monarchies.

• Kuwait:

  • Invaded by Iraq in 1990, liberal and progressive, semi-democratic.

• Bahrain:

  • Close ties to Saudi Arabia and US, civil liberties concerns, Shiite-Sunni conflict.

• Qatar:

  • Wealthy, preparing for World Cup, regional tensions, Al Jazeera influence.

Topic #4: The Desert States of UAE, Oman, and Yemen

• Commonalities:

  • Larger than Gulf States, former British protectorates.

• UAE:

  • Wealth from finance and tourism, hub for transcontinental travel.

• Oman:

  • Led by Sultan Qaboos, known for economic growth and mediation.

• Yemen:

  • Civil war, no recognized government, former North-South division, Houthi rebellion.

Unit 1: Basic Vocabulary and Concepts

Vocabulary

• Allah, Arab, Caliphate, Cuneiform, Hajj, Islam, Koran, Ramadan, Shiite, Sultan, Sunni, Zionist

Important People

• Abraham, Abu Bakr, Ali, Sharif Hussein, Jesus, T. E. Lawrence, Mehmed the Conqueror, Prophet Muhammad

Places, Events, & Identifications

• Arab Revolt, Balfour Declaration, Constantinople, Jerusalem, McMahon-Hussein Correspondence, Mecca, Mesopotamia, Ottoman Empire, Palestine, Sumer, Sykes-Picot Agreement