An Ancient and Modern Crossroads

The Middle East “Middle East” is a term invented by Europeans

to describe the geographical region that lies between Europe and distant parts of Asia (what they called the far east).

The “Middle East” is on the continent of Asia but many parts of North Africa have strong cultural and geographic ties with the Middle East.

Consists of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen• Palestinian Territories are not a

recognized country.

The Frog & the Scorpion

The Frog & the Scorpion

Captures the Middle East perfectly. Events in the Middle East are often

unpredictable and illogical (just like the story).

The history of this region has contributed to the behaviors it exhibits today and might help explain what the future may hold.

The Middle East is on our daily news, political debates, and a major concern for governments throughout the world.

Why Should We Care?

1. It was the Cradle of Civilization

First urban civilizations appeared along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

2. Birthplace of 3 major religions:

Judaism , Christianity, Islam

Why Should We Care?

3. Terrorism: Copious political and religious organizations that tend to be radical in nature have evolved in this region.

4. Oil: World’s largest oil reserves: the US, along with other countries of the world, have relied heavily on the Middle East for oil.

Middle East: Geography

The physical geography of the

Middle East is varied.PeninsulasPlateausDesertsMountainsRiversSeasStraits

Middle East: Geography

Arabian Peninsula is made up of the Arabian Desert

“Empty Quarter” is the largest sand desert in the world and is found in the southern area.

Water is very hard to find and is very valuable.

The little water in the desert is found at oases.

Oasis – a place in a desert where water is available near the surface.

Middle East: Geography

WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

Let’s Read About

IT!

Key Terms

Monotheistic a religion with the belief in one God (examples

include Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) Diaspora

a scattered population with a common origin in a smaller geographic area (i.e. Jews)

Anti-Semitism prejudice, hatred of, or discrimination against

Jews Pogrom

a violent riot aimed at massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly one aimed at Jews

Key Terms

The Crusades military campaigns conducted Catholic Church

(Christian) during the Middle Ages, with the goal of restoring Christian control of Jerusalem

Zionism the national movement of Jews that supports

the creation of a Jewish homeland in the territory defined as Israel.

Palestine a geographic region in Western Asia between

the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River; also known as the Land of Israel

The Evolution of Palestine

After the Sykes-Picot Agreement; Britain officially took control of Palestine

The Evolution of Palestine

Map showing the areas of Jewish Land Ownership in Mandatory Palestine, 1947 (blue). This information was used during the discussions ahead of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which carved it into two states – one for Jews and one for Arabs.

The Evolution of Palestine

UN Partition Plan: All areas in green would have been controlled by Palestine. The area outlined in red is Jerusalem and would have been administered by the UN.

The Evolution of Palestine

United Nations Partition for Palestine. Green areas are Arab. This map was valid between the years of 1948-1967.

The West

Bank

The Gaza Strip

The Evolution of Palestine

1993 – present

Gamal Nasser, Egypt

Suez Crisis, 1956

After 1967 War

PLO LeaderYasser Arafat

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat

Camp David Accords, 1979

Intifada, 1987

Saddam Hussein

Yitzhak Rabin, Oslo Peace Accords, 1993

Mahmoud Abbas

West Bank Barrier