Human Geography of the Middle East: Religion, Politics, and Oil
The rise of major religions thousands of years ago and the discovery of oil in the past century have drastically shaped life
in the Middle East
Islam Brings a New Culture The Five Pillars are required of all Muslims; create common
culture “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”
Faith – all believers must testify: Prayer – pray facing Mecca 5 times a day; mosque – place of
worship Charity – give money to the less fortunate Fasting – in the holy month of Ramadan, don’t eat, drink during
day Pilgrimage – all Muslims should make hajj to Mecca once in their
life
Islam Changes Desert Culture
Modern Nations of the Subregion
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia Qatar, UAE, Yemen
Town and Desert Armies of Bedouin fighters moved across the
desert, conquered lands, and put Muslim leaders in control.
Arabic language and Islamic teachings spread
Islam Changes Desert Culture
Muslim Empires were controlled by
theocratic government – religious leaders controlled the government.
1600s, weak Muslim nations Britain and France were gaining power
and establishing empires Much of the Middle East fell under their
control after WWI and the breakup of the Muslim-held Ottoman Empire Region was vital because of Suez Canal
and Oil (discovered in 1932)
Government Change Hands
Only a part of the region was colonized. On Arabian Peninsula – new power rising Abdul al-Aziz Ibn Saud – consolidated power
over large areas of the Arabian Peninsula – area became known as Saudi Arabia in 1932 – still ruled by Abdul al-Aziz’s descendants today
Government Changes Hands
OPEC Oil is principle resource of economy, makes region
globally important In 1960, oil-producing nations form economic group
OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries The purpose of OPEC is to help members control
worldwide oil prices by adjusting oil prices and production quotas – powerful force in international trade!
Includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Iran, Iraq
Oil Dominates the Economy
The Change to Urban Life Rapid development as technology undermined
traditional lifestyles Trucks replace camels; malls replace marketplace
(bazaars) Villagers, farmers, nomads move into cities
25% urban in 1960; 58% by 1990s; estimate 70% by 2015 Saudi population 83% urban
Oil jobs require skilled workers educational systems can’t provide Foreign workers brought in
Modern Arabic Life
Women often cover their heads, faces with scarf,
veil Women’s roles are slowly expanding: more are educated,
working Prayers performed dawn, noon, mid-afternoon,
sunset, before bed Attend mosque services on Fridays
Fasting in Ramadan reinforces spirituality, self-control, humility Fasting is a way of reminding Muslims of the
spiritual part of their lives.
Religious Duties Shape Lives
The holy places of three religions are found
in the subregion There is a great deal of political tension
among nations in this subregion
The Eastern Mediterranean
Jewish Presence All 3 major religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)
claim Jerusalem as a holy city. Jerusalem is capital of Israel; center of modern,
ancient homeland Temple Mount in old city housed earliest temples
King Solomon’s First Temple Second Temple built in 538 B.C.
Today Jews pray at Western Wall (Wailing Wall) Sole remainder of Second Temple (destroyed by Romans
in A.D. 70)
Religious Holy Places
Jerusalem is sacred site of Jesus’ crucifixion
Nearby towns, villages were important in Jesus’ life Christians visit Mount of Olives, Church of Holy
Sepulchre (site of the resurrection of Jesus and where he was buried)
When Jerusalem was under Muslim control, Christians launched the Crusades to regain the land and place them under the control of Christians. Muslims eventually regained control of the area They maintained control until establishment of Israel
in 1948
Christian Heritage
Jerusalem is the third most holy Muslim
city after Mecca and Medina Dome of the Rock – shrine where it’s
believed Muhammad rose to heaven Jews believe it’s site where Abraham prepared
to sacrifice Isaac Dome and Al-Aqsa mosque are located on
Temple Mount by Western Wall Close proximity of holy sites fosters Jewish-
Muslim clashes
Islamic Sacred Sites
The Ottoman Empire (Muslim government based in
Turkey, ruled the Eastern Mediterranean lands from 1520 to 1922)
End of WWI, Ottoman Empire fell apart – Britain and France received lands as part of the war settlement France took Lebanon, Syria; Britain took modern Jordan,
Israel Both supposed to rule only until areas are ready
for independence
Legacy of Colonialism
Land controlled by Britain was known as
Palestine 19th century movement – Zionism – goal was
to create and support a Jewish homeland in Palestine
1939 – to reduce tensions – British halted Jewish immigration to Palestine
British Control Palestine
WWII – thousands of Jewish survivors of the
Holocaust wanted to settle in Palestine. Palestine – Jewish homeland 1947 – UN developed a plan to divide
Palestine into two state – one for Arabs and one for Jews
Arabs did not agree
Creating the State of Israel
1950s – Israel was a firmly established nation 1960s – The Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) was formed to regain the land for Palestinian Arabs
Pursued political and military means to take possession of Arab land in Israel
PLO
Eating Out, Eating In People don’t eat in restaurants as much as in
US Some restaurants have separate male, female
sections Cares are usually for men only
Most meals are eaten at home, with dinner between 8-11 pm
Meals include hummus Muslim Arabs make up majority of people who
live in the countries of Eastern Mediterranean
Modern Life
The nations in this subregion are Muslim but
most are part of the Arab culture The nations in the Northeast range from
developed to very poorly developed
The Northeast
Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan Fertile Crescent – Iraq Mesopotamia – “Land between the rivers”
Sumer, Babylonia, Assyria, and Chaldea all built civilizations here
Nations of the Region
Turks, Kurds, and Persians Religious tensions: After Muhammad’s death,
Muslims divided into 2 main branches: Sunni and Shi’ite
Sunni – 83% of Muslims Shi’ite – most Iranians
Ethnics Groups
The Kurds (an ethnic group that have
lived in the lands of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran for thousands of years) are considered a stateless nation because they are a nation of people without a land to legally occupy.
Iran – home to refugees Oil-Rich Regions – powerful nationswant control over these resources and are willing to fight for them
Clashes Over Land
In 1980s, Iran, Iraq fight war over Persian Gulf oil fields Iraq invades Kuwait in 1990, starting the Persian Gulf
War (Desert Storm) The US and 32 other nations fought to drive the Iraqis
out of Kuwait and keep the oil fields open
Control of Oil Fields
Within 11 months of 9/11, US fought in
Afghanistan 2003 – Prompted for fear of national security,
US declared war on Iraq and its leader, Saddam Hussein
War on Terrorism
Taliban – fundamentalist Muslim
political group of Afghanistan Protected Osama bin Laden and al-
Qaeda terrorist network After 911 attacks, U.S. attacks
Afghanistan in October 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom
targets terrorist assets, infrastructure Taliban removed from power by March
2002 Osama bin Laden killed in May, 2011
Overthrow of the Taliban
After Gulf War, UN order Iraqi dictator
Saddam Hussein to disarm President George W. Bush turn focus to
Iraq in 2002 Bush believes Hussein has weapons of mass
destruction U.S., U.K. attack Iraq in Operation Iraqi
Freedom, March 2003 Major fighting ended in May 2003; Hussein
captured in December 2003, died December 2006
Overthrow of Saddam Hussein