Geography of the Middle East

- Middle East as tricontinental hub between Europe, Asia, & Africa

- Geopolitical significance

- Birthplace of three monotheistic religions

- Base of extensive empires

- Resource area for 66% of the world’s oil

Tricontinental Junction: An Introduction

Chapter 1

- Place of explosive conflicts after World War II:

- Arab-Israeli conflict (1947 – present)

- Yemen Civil War (1960s)

- Lebanon Civil War (1975-1991)

- American Embassy hostage crisis (1979-1980)

- Iran – Iraq War (1980-1988)

- Gulf War I (1990-1991)

- Afghanistan (2001 – present)

- Gulf War II (2003 – 2011)

- Arab Spring (2010 – present)

- The Rise of ISIS (2013 – present)

- Despite extensive reporting on the area, few media have offered in-depth, objective analysis of the Middle East’s complex patterns:

- religions ?

- peoples ?

- cultures ?

- politics ?

- aspirations?

- Why this lack of analysis?

- Why the lack of objectivity?

- as media sources fail to balance Middle East reporting, Americans often perceive the Middle East in negative terms

- stereotypes and prejudices have roots as far back as the Crusades, and experienced vivid injection after 9/11

- the need to learn the fundamental geographical factors:

- Middle East as “Cradle of Civilization”

- Middle East as matrix for later Western- and Orient civilizations

- Middle East as birthplace for three important religions

- Middle East as preserver of the Hellenistic world

- Middle East as remarkable commercial crossroads

Five contemporary facets dominate the world’s perception of the area:

1) unequaled petroleum sources

2) ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict

3) terrorism

4) rivalries among leaders and states

5) extremism among all religious groups

Defining the Middle East:

- limits of region are variously conceived

- terms such as “East”, “Near East”, “Far East”, or “Middle East” are ultimately Eurocentric

- our textbook focuses on sixteen countries, from Egypt in North Africa to Turkey and Iran in SW- Asia

What will the Middle East look like in 20 years?

NOW

THEN?