The Middle East and North Africa

Through the 5 themes of geography…

1) Location

Where is the Middle East?

The Middle East is at the crossroads of three Continents:

1. Asia2. Africa3. Europe

What is the Middle East Region?• Areas west of Afghanistan/Pakistan including Iran• Countries in Northern Africa along Mediterranean Sea• Turkey

Why is Northern Africa included in the region?• Islam and Arabs– same religion, similar cultures

Major Physical Features• Sahara Desert

• Arabian Peninsula

• Jordan River

• Tigris River

• Euphrates River

• Nile River

• Red Sea

• Persian Gulf

• Suez Canal

• Straits of Hormuz

2) Human Environment Interaction

Physical Geography - Middle East: Climate Regions

What climate type dominates the region?

What climate type is found around water?

Physical Geography - The Middle East: Natural Vegetation

What is the dominant vegetation zone in the region?

Why is there a different vegetation zone through central Egypt?

Fresh Water• Limited supplies in most countries• Desalination plants – remove salt

from water• Dams - hydroelectricity• Irrigation - for farming

Petroleum/Oil• Most countries either have oil or make

money from it (refining it or pipeline fees)

• ½ of world supply of petroleum is in Middle East

How does this affect you?

What resources are in the Middle East?

Physical Geog - The Natural Resources of the Middle East

What is the dominant form of agriculture in the Middle East?

What mineral resource is most common in the Middle East?

Where are there Fresh Groundwater Sources?

What is Oil? Why is it Important?Produced from microscopic marine plants and

animals, squeezed underground for millions of years.

Oil is a “finite resource” – NONRENEWABLE• Once it is used up, it is gone forever.• Nobody is certain how much is left.

Oil is used for many things:1. Fuel, (gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil)2. All plastic is made from petroleum3. Asphalt used in road construction4. Synthetic rubber in tires5. Fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides6. Detergents, many drugs, and paints7. Artificial fibers used in clothing (Nylon,

Polyester)

Global Oil Production

OPEC

• OPEC - “Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries”• Controls the price, production and distribution of oil.• 66% of world reserves of oil, 40% of world oil production

What are our alternative energy sources?

• Solar• Wind• Hydrogen• Nuclear• Vegetable oil• Grain alcohol –

Gasohol/Ethonal• Hydroelectric• Ocean Currents• Geo-Thermal

3) Movement• Demographics, Immigration, Trade Routes, and Choke Points

Demographics and Immigration

• In general, MENA has fast growing, very young populations. 50% under the age of 35 in most places.

• Despite this, many countries buck this trend, with rapidly decreasing fertility rates.

• MENA is a primary source of immigrants to Europe and the West, mostly for economic reasons.

• Some countries in the Persian Gulf, on the other hand, have large populations of immigrant workers from South and Southeast Asia for the same reasons.

Trade Routes and Choke PointsSuez Canal• Primary trade route connecting

Europe and Asia• Built in Egypt by the French in the

1850’s and 1860’s.

Straits of Hormuz• The Persian Gulf is a vital part of

the world oil supply. • It is in a very dangerous part of

the world.• It can easily be closed off by

hostile countries.

4) Place

History of the Middle East“Fertile Crescent” of river

valleys, was cradle of civilization, around 4000 BC.

• Nile River• Jordan River• Tigris River• Euphrates River

Mesopotamia - Area of earliest towns, agriculture between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Empires - Many different empires ruled this region:• Assyrians• Persians• Alexander the Great• Romans• Caliphate

Islam – Dominated the region almost immediately after it appeared around 650AD, both religiously and politically.

Middle East: Population Density

Why is the population density so high in central Egypt?

What other areas are most populated in the region? Why?

Cultures of the Middle East

• Majority speak Arabic (also Turkish, Farsi, Hebrew)

• Many different ethnic groups, such as Arabs, Persians, Turks, Kurds

• 90% follow Islam (Sunni and Shi’a)

Many Ethnic Groups in the Middle East

Middle Eastern Countries

• Related history, similar issues and challenges

• Religious conflicts, social turmoil

• Limited natural resources (especially water)

• Arid climate – hot and dry (136* in the shade in Libya!)

• All countries border the ocean (except Afghanistan)

Islam and the Middle East

What three major religions began in Middle East?

• Judaism, Christianity, Islam

• Called “Religions of the Book”, or “Abrahamic Religions”, all related traditions.

• Major events of Old Testament, New Testament, and Quran all happened in Middle East and North Africa.

• Islam is now the dominant religion of the region, and has been since around 700AD.

What is Islam?Primary religion of the modern Middle East, about 1.5 billion followers.

Main idea: “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his Prophet.” • Who – Muhammad• When – circa 610AD• Where – Arabian Peninsula• Holy Books – Quran (main text) and the Hadith (commentaries)

Major Concepts of Islam

• Islam means “submission to the will of God”.

• Quran (book) is considered the literal word of Allah, given to Mohammed by the Archangel Gabriel.

• Sharia is Islamic law, covering nearly all aspects of life. Used by many Islamic countries as basis for their own legal codes.

• Mosques are where Muslims gather to worship.

• Five Pillars of Islam are the things one must do to be a practicing Muslim.

• Jihad is “struggle”, whether internally for self-control or externally for holy war.

“Five Pillars” of Islam:

1. Statement of Faith

2. Prayer five times daily

3. Fasting during holiday of Ramadan

4. Alms to the poor

5. Visit holy city of Mecca at least once.

الله إال إله ال أن أشهدالله رسـول محـمدا4 أن أشهد

I declare that there is no deity except Allah.I declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

“Kaaba” in Mecca, site of pilgrimage.

Why are women covered up?• Islam encourages modest dress. Different cultures interpret this differently, and require

different things from women. Some women see it as subjugation, some see it as proper.• Not all countries follow the same customs, nor do all women in a country follow the same

customs. Some places it is a choice, others it is the law. In a few places, it is enforced with violence against women.

• Head covering is called Hijab. Only the eyes exposed is called Nijab. Head to toe is called Burka.

Difference between Sunni vs. Shia?• Two major sects of Islam. In modern times,

Islam is split – about 85% Sunni, 15% Shi’a.

• Differences started long ago, due to a dispute about who would lead the Muslim world (Umma) after Muhammad died.

• Over time, the groups developed different beliefs and practices. It is a little like the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

• Many modern conflicts in the Middle East have these differences at their root. This is called “sectarian violence”.

5 ) Region• Issues, Crisis, and Conflicts

• There is a lot of stuff covered in this presentation, so strap in.

CONFLICT: Israel and the Arab World

Creation of Israel• Zionism- Political movement for a

Jewish homeland. Jews to return to “Promised Land”. Organized by Theodore Herzl in 1897.

• Israel is the only country in the region not dominated by Islam

• Why? Jews faced persecution and genocide throughout their history. Worldwide sympathy for Jews after WW2.

• Jews slowly moved to Palestine in 1890’s – 1930’s. Conflict with local Arabs over land, water, business.

How was Israel created?United Nations settled on Palestine for a Jewish Homeland• Why Palestine?1. Ancient kingdom of Israel, “Promised Land”2. Not very crowded in the 1940’s3. Controlled by Britain, which was willing to give it

to Jews

1948 – UN Resolution 181 divided Palestine into 3 sections:4. Israel – for Jews5. Palestine – for Arabs6. Jerusalem – run by UN for all groups

Immediately triggered the 1948 war, first of many Arab-Israeli wars.

Arab-Israeli WarsIsrael believes it has a right to exist. Arabs feel that Israel was forced upon them by the West. Both sides became part of the “Cold War”, aggravating the issue. Arabs and Israelis fought several large wars and many small ones. The two most important ones are:

• 1948 – “War of Independence”/Nakba: Arab armies invaded, Arab refugees fled, hoping to return after war. Israel won. These refugees became today’s Palestinians.

• 1967 – Six Day War: Egypt, Syria prepped for war, but Israel hit first. Total win for Israel, Occupied lots of territory, including West Bank, Gaza, and Golan Heights, and captured Jerusalem.

Major wars ended after Camp David Agreements (1977-1978), peace between Egypt and Israel. Other Arab countries still hostile, but no wars since.

JerusalemJerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It has been fought over for thousands of years.

• In the 1967 “Six Day War”, Israel captured the entire city, and made it the capital of Israel. Part had previously been controlled by Jordan. The Palestinians see it as part of the West Bank, and thus belonging to them.

• The “Western Wall”, part of the ruins of the main temple of Judaism, is considered the holiest site by Jews. The “Dome of the Rock” is a mosque where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended into heaven. Both sites are on the same hill, with constant tensions between Jews and Muslims.

Israel vs. Palestine

• In the 1948 war, many Arabs left their homes, living in refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza. After 1967 War, Israel expanded into this captured land, and occupied it directly.

• Most Palestinians live in West Bank and Gaza, area which are crowded and poor, and blame Israel for their hard lives. Formed the “Palestine Liberation Organization” to fight Israel.

• Peace negotiations have gone on since 1990, but several uprisings, called “Intifadah” have occurred.

• Two main groups against Israel:– Fatah – Once part of PLO, controls the West Bank, backed

by Arab countries.– Hamas – Controls Gaza, backed by Iran.

CONFLICT: Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf

USA in the Persian GulfWhy are we there?• To protect the flow of oil to the world, mostly.

We need it, and that is where it comes from.

What have we done there?• The USA has supported dictators, overthrown

governments, sold weapons to both sides in a war, and fought wars.

What resulted from this?• USA is mistrusted in the region, involved in a long

war, and faces terrorism at home.

What it worth it?• Maybe. Gotta have the oil, after all.

Iran

• Mostly Shia• Strait of Hormuz• Former Persian Empire• Language – Farsi• Not friendly with the USA

Iraq

• 20% Sunni 80% Shia• Saddam Hussein former leader.• Language – Arabic• Arab Ethnicity not Persian Ethnicity• Friendly with the US

Iraq and Iran – NOT THE SAME

IRAQ IRAN

ETHNIC GROUP ARABS PERSIANS

LANGUAGE ARABIC FARSI

ISLAMIC SECT 20% SUNNI, 80% SHI’A 90% SHI’A

GOVERNMENT DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC ISLAMIC THEOCRACY

CAPITAL BAGHDAD TEHERAN

LOCATION WEST EAST

RELATION TO USA FRIENDLY OPPOSED

What are the Gulf Wars?Conflicts between the USA, Iraq, and Iran to control the Persian Gulf. Alliances shift – today’s ally is tomorrow’s enemy!

1. IRAN-IRAQ WAR (1980-1988): Iran vs. Iraq; Chemical weapons used by both sides, possibly a million people died. US supported Iraq and Saddam Hussein, but covertly sold weapons to Iran.

2. GULF WAR (1991): US vs. Iraq; Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait to take the oilfields. USA and coalition fought to protect Saudi and Kuwaiti oilfields. War stopped by UN with Saddam Hussein still in power.

3. IRAQ WAR (2003-2011): US vs. Iraq; USA and allies invaded Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein. Sectarian fighting between Shia vs. Sunni vs. Kurds. US withdrew in 2011.

Kurds and Kurdistan

• The Kurds are a people who live in the Middle East, about 30,000,000 in all. They have their own language and culture, and a separate identity as Kurdish people.

• They have no country of their own, instead living scattered across a dozen other countries, including Turkey, Iraq, and Iran.

• They are in conflict with several governments, as some wish to create a separate Kurdish country, called Kurdistan.

• Kurds often point to the Jews and the creation of Israel as an example.

Why is there conflict with Iran?

• 1950’s-1970’s, USA supported the “Shah” (Emperor) of Iran because he was anti-Communist. He was a harsh ruler.

• In 1979 an Islamic Revolution happened, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, opposed to the USA. They took 50+ American hostages, held them for almost a year and a half.

• Iran has opposed the USA on Israel, Iraq, and nuclear weapons. The Iranian government calls the USA the “Great Satan”.

• Iran was once Persia, a great empire, and it wishes to resume importance on the world stage.

• They are currently threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz/Persian Gulf, due to international sanctions against them.

Saudi Arabia

• Medina• Mecca• Red Sea• Rub al Khali• King Abdullah• Worlds largest oil

producer

The Persian Gulf States

• Oil producing countries

• Choke points• Kuwait, Iraq, UAE,

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman

Egypt

• Suez Canal • Nile River• Pyramids• Arab Spring• Cairo • Tahrir Square

The Arab Spring

The “Arab Spring” RevoltsThe Arab Spring is a wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world starting in late 2010.

• Revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt

• Civil war in Libya resulted in fall of its government

• Civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen, resulting in resignation of Yemeni prime minister

• Major protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Oman

• Minor protests in Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Western Sahara.

• Clashes between Israel and Palestine along border posts also inspired by Arab Spring.

Arab Spring RevoltsThe protests have shared techniques of civil resistance, as well as the use of social media (Facebook and Twitter) to organize and coordinate.

Many demonstrations have met violent responses from authorities, as well as from pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators.

Improvised riot helmets in Tahrir Square (Egypt)!!!

Results of the Arab SpringAs of January, 2013, the following changes have resulted from the Arab Spring:

Crisis in Syria• Syria is a small country located between

Iraq and Turkey, with a powerful military. Before the Arab Spring, Syria was ruled by the Assad family as a dictatorship.

• In 2011, demonstrations against the Assad turned violent. By 2012, a full civil war was on between the Assad government and rebel factions, including some Islamists and some supported by Iran… not friends of the USA.

• The USA supports the rebels in theory, but many of them consider us enemies. Russia and China support the Assad regime. To make matters more complicated, the Syrian military has a lot of chemical weapons, very dangerous.

Crisis in Mali and North Africa

• In 2012, there was a rebellion in the northern part of Mali, an African nation. The rebels were Tuaregs, an ethnic group that wanted its own country.

• By the summer of 2012, the rebels had been taken over by Islamists called “Ansar al-Dine”, friends of Al Qaeda.

• Northern Mali is now a new safe-haven for Al Qaeda. They acquired large numbers of weapons and equipment from Libya, which collapsed last year.

• The French military has gone to fight the Islamists, because the French have interests in Mali. Other African and NATO countries are slowly getting involved as well.