SOUTH WEST ASIA SOUTH WEST ASIA

SOUTH WEST ASIA

SOUTH WEST ASIA

WHY DO WE CALL IT MIDDLE EAST? I. Proximity to the trade center of the “Old World” – Mediterranean Sea II. Relative location to Western Europe (Prime Meridian) a. China is in the Far East b. areas adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea are the Near East c. The Persian Gulf is the Middle East

NO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WHY ?

Reason One I. Limited Water Major Rivers ○ Tigris River and Euphrates River together form ia m a ot op es M Jordan Nile “Mesopotamia” – meaning land between rivers Because of annual flooding this area has rich farm land know as the “Fertile Crescent. ” - This is believed to be the location of the first great civilization – The Babylonians

Limited Water Continue Jordan River Water supply for western part of the region and a natural boundary between the Jewish world and the Muslim world West Bank of the Jordan River

LIMITED WATER CONTINUE Desalination – Process of converting salty sea water into drinkable fresh water

Reason #2 II. OIL • Persian Gulf region produces more oil than any other location on earth What would happen – The Soviet Union tried to capture oil Soviets gained if the fields in 1945 – The U. S. have control of the been protecting oil Persian Gulf oil? interest for many years

O. P. E. C – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Group of oil producing countries that agree on the prices they will sale their oil Why is that a problem? OIL - continues

Oil - continue The United States can not join O. P. E. C. ○ Why? Sherman Antitrust Act – it is a Monopoly

REASON #3 RELIGION GOD Religion that worships only ONE God is called? Monotheism Isaac - Second born from wife Sarah Abraham Jacob – name was changed to ISRAEL ARAB NATIONS 12 sons (TRIBES) of ISRAEL Through King David a savior (Messiah) Ishmael – First born from wife Ahaggar JESUS Prophet Muhammad JUDAISM 3000 B. C. CHRISTIANITY 33 A. D. ISLAM 610 A. D. Moses – wrote the Torah Bible Koran (Qur’an)

ISLAM Two major sects Sunni – majority Shiite - extremist, must be related to Mohammed Requirements 5 Pillars of Islam 1. “There is only one God MECCA 2. 3. 4. 5. and Mohammad is his prophet” Pray 5 times daily Give to poor (Almsgiving) Fasting Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

Islam continue Theocracy – Government led by religious leaders: Iran – Islam The Vatican – Catholicism Shari' a – Islamic law Imams – Shiite religious leaders in the line of the prophet Mohammad and in line for the Ayatollah – Iran’s political and religious leader

NO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST; REASON #4 Land Disputes; Jerusalem Muslim Mosque Dome of the Rock Christian Church • • • Jewish West Wall or Wailing Wall Jews most holy city - Salomon's temple Christian’s holy city - Christ was killed outside its walls Islam’s third most holy city- Mohammad was taken there by Angel Gabriel. Mecca is its most holy city. Mohammad was born there.

ISRAEL; Land Disputes About 1000 B. C. Hebrew/Jewish people established homeland. Diaspora – removal of Jews from this land 587 B. C. First Diaspora (removed by Babylon) returned in 538 B. C. 132 A. D. Second Diaspora – (removed by Romans) Palestinians/Ottoman move in after Rome falls 300 A. D. 600 A. D. Islam is introduced 1099 -1187 Christian conquest Israel was reestablished after Holocaust in 1948 and Jews returned to land Israel gain land in 1967.

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