Human Geography of the Middle East: Religion, Politics, and Oil

1. 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

2. Islam Changes Desert Culture • 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

3. 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

4. Government Change Hands • 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)

5. Government Changes 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

7. Oil Dominates the Economy • 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

9. Modern Arabic Life • 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

10. Religious Duties Shape Lives • 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.

12. The Eastern Mediterranean • The holy places of three religions are found in the subregion • There is a great deal of political tension among nations in this subregion

13. Religious Holy Places • 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)

15. Christian Heritage • 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

17. Islamic Sacred Sites • 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

19. Legacy of Colonialism • 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

22. British Control Palestine • 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

23. Creating the State of Israel • 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

24. PLO • 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

25. Modern Life • 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

26. The Northeast • 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

27. Nations of the Region • Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan • Fertile Crescent – Iraq • Mesopotamia – “Land between the rivers” • Sumer, Babylonia, Assyria, and Chaldea all built civilizations here

29. Ethnics Groups • 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

30. Clashes Over Land • 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 nations want control over these resources and are willing to fight for them

31. Control of Oil Fields • 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

33. War on Terrorism • 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

34. Overthrow of the Taliban • 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

35. Overthrow of Saddam Hussein • 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