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