A Geographic Profile of THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

Chapter 6

Middle East and North Africa “Middle East” is Eurocentric 21 Countries, Palestinian Territories of the West Bank

and Gaza Strip, and the disputed Western Sahara Area of 5.6 million square miles Population of 503 million people (2011)

Turkey, Iran & Egypt each have more than 70 million people People locate where water is abundant in this arid region Region on the whole is 62% urban High rate of population growth across region Many oil-rich countries of the Gulf region have

more foreigners than citizens living in them

6.1 Area and Population

Middle East and North Africa

Comparison in Area and LatitudeMiddle East & North Africa vs. Conterminous U.S.

Population Distribution

Population Cartogram

6.2 Physical Geography & Human Adaptations

Margins of region are oceans, seas, high mountains, and deserts Atlantic Ocean to the west Sahara to the south Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas to the north Hindu Kush and Baluchistan Desert to the east

Land composed of arid plains and plateaus Large areas of rugged mountains Isolated “seas” of sand

6.2.1 Region of Stark Geographic Contrasts

Climate Aridity

75 percent of region receives < 10” of annual precipitation Higher precipitation around Mediterranean or up at elevation Strategies of drought avoidance and drought endurance

Temperature Large daily and seasonal ranges Very hot days and surprisingly cool nights

Summer relocation of government in Saudi Arabia Tectonic Processes

Collision zones have resulted in mountain building Frequent earthquakes for places like Turkey, Iran,

and Afghanistan

Climate Types

Biome Types

Great Sand Sea in Egypt

Land Use

The Treasury at Petra, Jordan

Pontic Mountains in Turkey

Jordan Rift Valley From Space

Taurus Mountains of Turkey

Solar Boat of King Cheops

6.2.2 Villager, Pastoral Nomad, Urbanite

Middle Eastern Ecological Trilogy Villagers

Subsistence farmers of rural areas where dry farmingor irrigation is possible

Pastoral Nomads Desert peoples who migrate through arid lands with

livestock, following rainfall and vegetation patterns Urbanites

Inhabitants of large towns and cities, generally locatednear bountiful water sources

The Ecological Trilogy

6.2.3 The Village Way of Life

Historically, agricultural villagers represented the majority populations in the region Villages located near reliable water sources with cultivable

lands nearby Production and consumption focus on a staple grain Reliance on nomads for pastoral produce

Effects of exposure to outside influence Introduction of cash crops Improved and expanded irrigation Modern technology Rural-to-Urban Migration

6.2.4 The Pastoral Nomadic Way of Life

Pastoral Nomadism Emerged as offshoot of village agricultural way of life Vertical Migration in mountainous areas Horizontal Migration in flatter expanses Sedentarization (settling down) is a recent trend Nomads in region number estimated 5 to 13 million

Identified by their tribe, not be their nationality

6.2.5 The Urban Way of Life

The city was the final component to emerge in the ecological trilogy Mesopotamia, 4000 B.C.E. Egypt, 3000 B.C.E.

Medina (classic Islamic city) High defensive wall Congregational mosque Administrative and educational complex Bazaar or Suq (Commercial Zone) Residential areas based on ethnicity,

not income Rural-to-Urban Migration New modern urban development in

oil-rich countries

Model of the Medina

Bazaar in Cairo, Egypt

Artificial Islands in Dubai, UAE

6.3 Cultural & Historical Geographies

Egypt and Mesopotamia are among theworld’s great culture hearths

Language Families Afro-Asiatic Family

Examples: Semitic (Arabic & Hebrew), Berber, and Bedawi Altaic Family (Turkic) Caucasian Family Indo-European Family (Farsi and Kurdish) Nilo-Saharan Family

Religious Hearth Monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity & Islam

Languages of the Middle East & North Africa

Religions of the Middle East & North Africa

6.3.1 The Promised Land of the Jews

Judaism First significant monotheistic faith Practiced today by 14 million worldwide Torah is the Jewish holy scripture Unlike Christianity, Jesus not seen as a savior Ethnic, not proselytizing religion Western Wall (“Wailing Wall” to Jews) in Jerusalem

The most sacred site in the world accessible to Jews

Holy Places in Jerusalem

6.3.2 Christianity: Death & Resurrection in Jerusalem

Christianity Offshoot of Judaism that emerged in Palestine Jesus Christ

Born in Bethlehem around 4 B.C.E. His teachings denied validity of many Jewish

doctrines and protesters called for his death Jesus was put on trial, was found guilty of being a

claimant to Jewish kingship, and was crucified Christians believe Christ was resurrected from the

dead two days later and ascended into heaven Seldom has Christianity been majority religion in

the land where it was born Crusades (11th – 14th centuries)

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

6.3.3 The Message of Islam

Islam Monotheistic faith Dominant religion by far in Middle East & North Africa Prophet was Muhammad, who was from Mecca Qur’an is the holy book of Islam

Five Pillars of Islam Profession of the faith Prayer five times daily toward Mecca Almsgiving Fasting during Ramadan Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca (Islam’s holiest city)

Great Mosque in Mecca

6.4 Economic Geography

Oil dominates the region’s economic geography Large reserves Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Aim of taking joint action to demand higher profits

Other resources include: Remittances

Earned income sent home by guest workers Revenues from ship traffic through Suez Canal Exports of cotton, rice, and other commercial crops

6.5 Geopolitical Issues

Historically, region has been a geographic crossroads Geopolitical Interests

Narrow Waterways Access to Oil Access to Freshwater Terrorism

6.5.1 Chokepoints

Chokepoints Strategic narrow passageways on land or sea that may

be easily closed off by force or even the threat of force Examples Links:

Suez Canal Mediterranean & Red Seas Strait of Tiran Gulf of Aqaba & Red Sea Strait of Hormuz Persian Gulf & Arabian Sea Bab el-Mandeb Red Sea & Indian Ocean Bosporus Mediterranean & Black Seas Dardanelles Mediterranean & Black Seas Strait of Gibraltar Mediterranean Sea &

Atlantic Ocean

Chokepoints

History of War in the Suez Canal Zone

6.5.2 Access to Oil

Region’s oil is marketed primarily in western Europe and Japan

American Interest in Oil Support for Israel while courting Israel’s oil-rich enemies Carter Doctrine

U.S. would use any means necessary to defend its vital interests (i.e., Maintaining a secure supply of Gulf oil)

Gulf War U.S. led coalition of Western and Arab allies against Iraq

U.S. Invasion of Iraq in 2003 About weapons of mass destruction or control of oil?

6.5.3 Access to Freshwater

Hydropolitics 90 percent of usable freshwater in the region crosses

one or more international borders Role of water in Palestinian-Israeli conflict Water is a critical issue blocking a peace treaty

between Israel and Syria Nile Water Agreement

Signed by 10 countries in 1926 Guaranteed Egyptian access to water Many countries have defied the treaty in recent years

Upstream country is usually able to maximize itswater use at expense of a downstream country

Water Developments in the Nile Basin

Waterfall on Tigris River in Turkey

6.5.4 Terrorism

Terrorists pursued by U.S. are Islamist militants Islamist Groups

Hizbullah Hamas Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) Al-Qa’ida

1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania 2000 bombing of American destroyer U.S.S. Cole in Yemen September 11, 2001 - World Trade Center attacks

Tiny minority of Muslims have carried out terrorist actions that the great majority of Muslims condemned

6.6.1 Regional Issues and Landscapes:Israel and Palestine

Israel and Palestine (Arab-Israeli Conflict) One of the world’s most intractable disputes Primarily a conflict over ownership of land, but has far-

reaching repercussions throughout the rest of the world According to the UN, this conflict is the largest force

behind global tensions Resolution of this conflict would probably result in a more

peaceful world

The Middle East and North Africa in 1920

The victorious allies of World War I carved up the Middle Eastamong themselves. Growing difficulties of administrationwould drive them from the region within a few decades.

The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Political Geography Modern state of Israel carved from lands that have been

undetermined since the end of WWI Area was divided between British and French after defeat

of Ottoman Turks in WWI British withdrew in 1947, leaving the

UN to determine the region’s future UN responded with a 2-state solution

Arab State (Palestine) Jewish State (Israel)

Plan was flawed, leaving eachside feeling vulnerable

6.6.1 Regional Issues and Landscapes:Israel and Palestine (continued)

Israel Declared itself into existence in May 1948 Surrounding areas mobilized vs. Israel, but were defeated

Through the defeat, Israel acquired its pre-1967 borders Boundary separating Israel from the West Bank later

became known as the ”Green Line” Important wars between Israel and Palestine:

1948-1949 Arab-Israeli War The Six-Day War of 1967 The 1973 Arab-Israeli War

Camp David Accords returned Sinai to Egypt United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338:

Called on Israel to withdraw from the Occupied Territories

6.6.1 Regional Issues and Landscapes:Israel and Palestine (continued)

Palestinian Refugee Movements in 1948 and 1967

Zones of Control

On the Brink of Peace In 2000, President Clinton attempted to broker a historic

peace, to include: The creation of an independent Palestinian country A “land swap”

Peace talks broke down over the following issues: The status of Palestinian refugees abroad Control of historic city of Jerusalem, holy sites held by each side

Within weeks of the breakdown of these peace talks, the sides were again engaged in a state of war

6.6.1 Regional Issues and Landscapes:Israel and Palestine (continued)

6.6.2 The Arab Spring: Beginnings

The Beginning of the Arab Spring In a city in Tunisia on December 17, 2010, a vegetable

vendor named Muhammad Bouazizi was shaken down after refusing to pay a bribe to a city inspector He was denied entry to the local governor’s office

when he went to lodge a complaint Later that day he returned to the governor’s office

and set himself on fire in the street News of his death spread quickly, and touched a nerve

with Tunisia’s largely young and disaffected population Jasmine Revolution

Tunisian President Ben Ali’s own generals turned against him, and his family was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia

6.6.3 The Arab Spring: Egypt

Contributing factors to revolution in Egypt: “People overpopulation”

Youth Bulge: 60 percent of population under 25 Unemployment and Underemployment Government repression The wide gap between the rich and the poor

Inspired by the events of the Jasmine Revolution, the people of Egypt rioted in Spring 2011 Egyptian President Mubarak fled from Cairo, but was soon

imprisoned and put on trial

6.6.4 The Arab Spring: Libya

Libya Had been led by Muammar Qaddafi

He favored tribes on the central coast and in the center and west Showed no favor to tribes in the eastern region Treated ethnic Berber tribes as second-class citizens Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Berbers and eastern tribes

rose up against him Qaddafi was captured and executed in October 2011

6.6.5 The Arab Spring: Syria

Syria A minority Shiite group (7% of population) ruled the Sunni

majority (74%) In 1982, an army assault against an uprising resulted in

tens of thousands of deaths After the January 2011 uprising began, the leaders again

opted for violence At least 7000 people have died

6.6.6 The Arab Spring: Bahrain

Bahrain Small oil-rich Gulf island linked to eastern Saudi Arabia Inspired by the Jasmine Revolution, the repressed Shiite

majority expressed a desire for democracy, public participation, and justice to Sunni monarch

King Khalifa ordered government forces to crush rebellion, resulting in many casualties

6.6.7 The Arab Spring: Yemen

Yemen A beautiful but poor country located on Arabian Peninsula Loyalties are to clan and tribe, with no natural sense of

cohesion as a nation state Al-Qa’ida has a strong foothold Widespread revolt against ruler President Saleh inspired

by the Arab Spring After surviving assassination attempt, President Saleh

offered concessions to protestors and pleaded for them to stop protesting

The shabaab have ignored the president’s advice

6.6.8 The Arab Spring:Hallmarks of the Revolution

Revolutions were much facilitated by social networking and other social media

The traditional geography of revolt in public spaces played a prominent role

Women had an unprecedented strong role in the Arab Spring

Traditional Islamic classification of sacred time played an important part

Religion and militant Islamism did not otherwise feature prominently in the Arab Spring

6.6.9 The Arab Spring: What Now?

The “Arab Spring” has transitioned into an “autumn”,a period of danger and uncertainty Concerns over what will replace the stability of the

region’s repressive, autocratic regimes Concerns over what will happen to countries yet to

overthrow their governments Divisiveness, polarization, and even violence based on

major faith, minority sect, and tribal affiliations

6.6.10 The Arab Spring:Involvement of the United States

How much instability in this oil-rich region will the U.S. tolerate without intervention? The U.S. has provided economic aid to countries such as

Egypt and Israel for some of the following reasons: To help maintain strategic and political interests

in the Middle East To prevent the ascendance of militant Islamists

6.6.11 The Gulf Oil Region: Masdar

Masdar (“The Source”) Futuristic city being planned in Abu Dhabi Goal of being “carbon-neutral” Energy to be provided by renewable resources Will be zero-waste, with everything recycled or reused Water provided by desalinization To be a “smart” city designed to attract scientists & visionaries GIS has been a very important tool in planning this city Global financial crisis has derailed construction schedule, but

tentative plan is that city will be open for settlement in 2015

6.6.12 The Gulf Oil Region: Iraq and the US

Iraq Known since ancient times

as Mesopotamia, “the landbetween the rivers”

Oil-rich country, buthas little coastline andpoor port facilities One reason behind wars

instigated by Iraq was adesire to increase Gulf access

Gulf War I Gulf War II

6.6.13 The Gulf Oil Region: The Kurds

The Kurds A mostly Sunni Muslim people of

Indo-European origin World’s largest ethnic group

without a country Largest non-Arab minority in Iraq Largest minority group in Turkey

Turkish officials have long treatedthe Kurds poorly

Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) Largest Kurdish resistance

to Turkish rule

6.6.14 The Gulf Oil Region: Iran

The area of the Middle East formerly known as Persia

Tension between Iran and U.S. escalated in 2005 when Ahmadinejad became president of Iran

Historically, Iranians (Persians) are also an enemy of Arabs Great deal of dislike between

Iran and neighbors Iraq and Saudi Arabia

6.6.15 Turkey

Turkey Founder Mustafa Atatürk determined

to westernize Turkey, raising standardof living and making it a strong and respected national state

Only Muslim country in region to officially separate church and state Southeast Anatolia Project

Agricultural effort to double the country’s irrigable farmland European or Great Middle Eastern Power?

Is an “in-between” country, near line between MDCs and LDCs Culturally between traditional Islamic and secular European ways

of living, but aspires to become more European So far, Turkey has been blocked from membership in the EU

Could seek alliances eastward in Russia, India, and China During Arab Spring of 2011, Turkey appealed to the U.S. to

recognize it, rather than Israel, as the best Middle Eastern ally