The Middle East

Southwest Asia (The Middle East) Chapter 16

Turkey The European and Asian parts of Turkey are separated by three waterways: 1. The Bosporus 2. The Sea of Marmara 3. The Dardanelles Together, these waterways are known as the Turkish Straits

Land & Climate Highlands & plateaus cover much of Turkey. The Anatolian Plateau is the heart of Turkey. The Pontiac Mountains border the plateau to the north. The Taurus Mountains border to the south.

Grassy plains cover the northern part of Turkey along the Black Sea. Coastal plains run along the southern coast on the Mediterranean Sea. In the west, fertile river valleys run inland from the Aegean Sea. The plateau areas are hot & dry in the summer and cold & snowy in the winter. The coastal areas are hot & dry in the summer and mild & rainy in the winter.

Economy Agriculture---Wheat & livestock are the leading products. Best farmlands found in the coastal areas. Region 65 million people Capital is Ankara. Most people live in the northern part of the Anatolian Plateau, the coastal plains, or in the valleys.

Turkish is the major language, but Arabic, Greek, & Kurdish is spoken. Over 98% of the population practices Islam (they are Muslims.) Small groups of Christians and Jews. About 64% of the people live in cities or towns. Istanbul, the largest city, has eight million people.

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents. Many mosques located in the city.

History Most of the population are descendants of an Asian people called Turks who migrated (moved) to the Anatolian Plateau in the 900’s. One group of Turks, the Ottomans, established a Muslim empire centered in Turkey. Ottomans controlled the region until the conclusion of WW I.

“ Father of the Turks” When WW I ended, the victors broke up the Ottoman Empire. Turkey was only allowed to keep the small region that is recognized today. The people were furious that the Sultan had given up so much of their land. Mustafa Kemal, a young military officer, began a movement to establish Turkey as an independent republic.

Mustafa Kemal 1923—Kemal & his men overthrew the Sultan, and declared Turkey a republic. Kemal was elected President.

Kemal wanted to make Turkey a modern country, which meant sweeping reforms. Broke the bond between Islam & the government. Religious leaders were no longer involved in running the government. Replaced Islamic laws with laws based on European legal systems. Outlawed the fez (a brimless, flat topped hat worn by men), and ridiculed the custom that required women to wear veils in public.

Women were given the right to vote. When Kemal died in 1938, Turkey was on its way to becoming a modern country. Turks gave him the surname Ataturk, which means “Father of the Turks.”

Eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. 256 miles long from north to south. 68 miles wide. Has plains, deserts, & highlands. Far north---mountains of Galilee East of the mountains is a plateau---Golan Heights In the south----Judean Hills The Dead Sea is located between Israel & Jordan.

The Dead Sea 1,312 ft. below sea level. Rim of the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. Saltiest body of water on earth, about 9X as salty as the ocean. So many minerals that fish & other animals cannot live in it.

The Negev Southern Israel Desert area, covers ½ of the country. Triangular area of dry hills, valleys, & plains.

The south also has a narrow, fertile plain (only 20 miles wide), along the country’s Mediterranean Coast. In the east, the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. Climate North has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers & mild winters (about 40 inches of rain). South has a desert climate, with temperatures reaching 120 F & less than an inch of rain.

The Economy Limited farmland & natural resources. Most industrialized nation in the Middle East. Factories produce food products, clothing, chemicals, building materials, electronic appliances, & machinery. Diamond cutting is a major industry. Tel Aviv is the largest manufacturing center.

Mining is important----the Dead Sea is rich in potash ( a type of mineral salt, used in explosives and fertilizer) The Negev area is a source of copper & phosphate. Phosphate ---A mineral used in making fertilizer.

Agriculture Israel drained their swamps, built irrigation systems, & used fertilizers to improve their soil. Produce oranges, grapefruits, & lemons.

The Law of the Return Increased population in the country more than any other factor. Passed in 1950---law states that settlement in Israel is open to Jews from anywhere in the world. Israel has about six million people. About 80% of the population are Jews (also includes Muslim and Christian Arabs.)

Most of Israel’s Arabs are part of a group called Palestinians. Jews & Arabs both trace their roots to groups that live in the area centuries ago. Palestinians ---Descendants of Arabs that inhabited Palestine. 90% of Israelis live in urban areas. Jerusalem is the capital. Largest cities are Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Yafo, & Haifa.

Jerusalem Holy city for Jews, Christians, & Muslims. All three groups practice monotheism. Monotheism ---A belief in one god.

Early Israel Many Israeli Jews came from places such as Europe, North Africa, and the Americas. Origins can be traced back to the Hebrews who set up a kingdom with a capital at Jerusalem in 1000 B.C. 922 B.C. Hebrew nation split into Israel & Judah. People of Judah known as Jews. Both Israel & Judah were eventually destroyed by invaders.

Israel was ruled by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, & Ottoman Turks. Under the Romans, the Israel and Judah became the country of Palestine. 1800’s---Palestine included Arabs and a small community of Jews. Many European Jews moved to Palestine. These settlers, known as Zionists , wanted to set up a homeland for Jews.

Zionists, named after the hill in Jerusalem, believed that the only way to solve the problem of oppression was by returning to the place they considered their homeland----Palestine. 1917---British government issued the Balfour Declaration . Stated Britain’s support for the creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine without violating the rights of Arabs living there.

Arabs are shocked by the declaration. Led to believe that all Arabs would be granted the right of self-determination (the right to determine their own political future.) British told the Arabs self-determination was still their goal. It was now clear that the goals of the Jews & the Arabs were at odds.

Modern Israel After WW I, the British controlled Palestine. The Holocaust brought worldwide attention to the Zionist cause. 1947---the United Nations voted to divide Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. 1948---the Jews of Palestine declared an independent republic called the State of Israel. The Arabs of Palestine rejected the idea.

1948-1974---Series of Arab-Israeli wars in which Israel gained Arab land. 1978---Peace treaty between Israel & Egypt

Syria, Lebanon, & Jordan Section 3

Syria Capital---Damascus Independent in 1946 Fertile coastal plains & valleys along the Mediterranean Sea. Agriculture is the major economic activity. Farmers raise mostly cotton & wheat. Primary industry is textile making, but Syrian cloth & fabrics have been highly valued since ancient times. Also produces cement, chemicals & glass.

About 50% of the 15.6 million people live in rural areas. Some are Bedouins (people who move through the deserts.)

Bedouin is Arabic for “desert dweller.” The other half of the population lives in cities. Damascus, home to more than two million people, was founded more than 5,000 years ago as a trading center.

1970 General Hafez al-Assad took power in Syria. Deceased 2000 Assad allows little political freedom. He makes all key decisions regarding foreign policy, national security, & the economy.

Recent History of Syria For most of recent history, Syria has been under a state of emergency. This means Syria has a wide latitude in dealing with suspects, detainees, and prisoners. Many human rights violations reported. Ex.) 1982— Army’s assault on the city of Hama (ancient city stronghold of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood group.) Assad’s forces killed thousands of civilians and destroyed the city of Hama.

Lebanon Capital is Beirut One of the smallest countries in the Middle East. West of Syria. Slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut.

Consists of plains & mountains. Mountains run along Lebanon’s eastern border. The coast has a mild, humid climate. Inland areas receive less rainfall and have lower winter and higher summer temperatures.

Service industries such as banking are Lebanon’s source of income. Lebanon manufactures products such as cement, chemicals, electric appliances, and textiles. Farmers grow apples, oranges, grapes, potatoes, & olives.

The People 70% of Lebanon’s 4.1 million people are Muslims (most of the rest are Christians.) 86% of the population live in urban areas. 1975---The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) set up military bases in Lebanon. The leader of the PLO was Yasser Arafat

The PLO conducted raids across the border to Israel. The Israelis struck back at PLO forces in Lebanon. 1975-1991 groups of Muslims & Christians fought a civil war ( a conflict among different groups in a country.) Agreement in 1993 between Israel and the PLO for limited Palestinian self-determination brought hope for Israel.

Jordan Capital is Amman. Jordan is slightly larger than the state of Kentucky. Before 1967, Jordan also held land west of the Jordan River (area known as the West Bank.) The West Bank, under the control of Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, is home to more than 1.8 million Palestinian Arabs.

Jordan stretches from the fertile Jordan River valley in the west to the dry, rugged country in the east. The north and west parts of the country have mild, rainy winters & dry, hot summers. The south & east have a hot, dry climate year-round.

Most people work in agriculture or in manufacturing. Manufactured goods include cement, chemicals, & petroleum products. Farmers grow citrus fruits, tomatoes, & melons.

The People 4.6 million people, with most being Arab Muslims or Christians. Includes one million Palestinian Arabs who fled Israel or the West Bank during the Arab-Israeli Wars. Amman has 1.2 million people. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy ( a form of government in which the monarch shares power with elected officials.)

The Arabian Peninsula Section 4

Saudi Arabia Largest country in the Middle East. It is about the size of the eastern half of the U.S. Contains a large portion of the world’s oil. (The Middle East holds 67% of the world’s known oil.)

The Land Deserts cover much of the country. The largest desert is the Empty Quarter in the south. The Empty Quarter has mountains of sand that reach heights of more than 1,000 ft. Highlands stretch along the Red Sea in the west. Valleys among the highlands provide the fertile farmland. East---Coastal Plain along the Persian Gulf.

The Economy Based on oil. Oil money builds schools, hospitals, roads, & airports. Agriculture is limited because of lack of water. Plants have been built to remove salt from the Persian Gulf & the Red Sea to meet the need for water for drinking & irrigation. This process is called desalination .

OPEC In 1960, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, & Saudi Arabia joined Venezuela to form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC.) Meet regularly to decide how much oil to produce & at what price to sell it. Goal : To decrease the influence of western oil companies on their countries & to increase their profits.

In the 1970’s, the prices soared. Developing countries had to cancel social programs to pay for oil. OPEC has expanded to include more nations from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, & Southeast Asia. Higher demand for oil=More power for OPEC.

The People Once divided into family groups. 1932—Monarchy led by the Saud family unified the country. Saud family still rules today. Most of the 20.2 million people live in villages & towns along the Persian Gulf or around oases (lush, green places in dry areas that have enough water for crops to grow.) Riyadh was the result of an oases.

Islamic religion affects almost all parts of life in Saudi Arabia. Makkah was an important city in the life of Muhammad, the man who brought Islam to Arabs in the A.D. 600’s. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world visit Makkah each year. Each Muslim tries to make a hajj (a religious journey to Makkah) at least once in their lifetime.

Persian Gulf States Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the U.A.E. are located along the Persian Gulf. Below their deserts lie vast deposits of oil. These countries have used their oil profits to build strong economies. High standard of living with great healthcare, education, & housing. Many foreign workers have settled in the Gulf to work in the modern cities & oil fields.

Oman Capital---Muscat Largely desert, with lots of oil ( the economy is based on oil.) Most of the people live in rural villages. Oil industry is bringing people into urban areas.

Yemen Capital---San’a Almost no natural resources. People are farmers or herders of sheep & cattle. Aden is a major port for ships traveling between the Arabian & Red Seas.

Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan Section 5

Iraq Capital---Baghdad Iraq has only been in existence since the early 1900’s. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers are the major geographic factors. West of these rivers, it is mostly desert.

Economy Oil is the major export. Factories produce food products, cloth, soap, & leather goods. Farmers grow barley, dates, grapes, melons, citrus fruits, & wheat.

The People 21.8 million people 70% live in urban areas Muslim Arabs make up the largest group. Kurds, who have their own culture & live in the mountains of northeast Iraq, are the 2 nd largest. Kurds, along with the Kurds of Turkey, would like independence.

Iran About the size of Alaska. A dry plateau stretches across the country. Caspian Sea to the north. Persian Gulf to the south. Mountainous regions have cold winters and mild summers. Central plateau has a dry climate with cold winter temperatures and mild to hot summers.

The Economy One of the world’s leading oil producers. Iran produces leather goods, machine tools, & tobacco products. Not much water in the country. Less than 12% of the land can be used for farming. Able to grow small amounts of wheat, barley, corn, cotton, dates, nuts, & tea.

People 64.1 million Most speak Farsi (Persian) 98% are Shiite Muslims. 61% live in urban areas. Once part of the Persian Empire 3,500 years ago. Descendants of the Persians make up the majority of the population today.

Afghanistan Capital---Kabul Hindu Kush range covers most of the country. The Khyber Pass, which cuts through the mountains, has been used as a major trade route. Highlands and deserts cover most of the country.

The Economy Farming of wheat, barley, corn, cotton, fruits, nuts, & vegetables. Rich in minerals, but not much industry.

The People 24.8 million people About 20 different ethnic groups with their own language and culture. The two largest groups are the Pushtuns and the Tajiks. People practice Islam. Many civil wars.

The Middle East

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The Middle East