Religion, Politics, and Oil: Southwest Asia

Religion, Politics, and Oil: Southwest Asia

Section 1: The Arabian PeninsulaSection 1: The Arabian Peninsula

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Nations of Arabian peninsula include: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Intersection of three continentsLife in desert: families ties very strong, nomadic

dwellers - Bedouins; fighting between families and clans for pasturelands and livestock

Islam - monotheistic religion based on founder - the Prophet Muhammad; Islam brings new culture to peninsula:Five Pillars - 1)testify no other god but Allah; 2)prayer

5 times a day - face Mecca (east) - “jumma” or “jack”; 3) charity - giving alms; 4)fasting during Ramadan; 5)pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at least once

Islam spread throughout Arabian peninsula - Bedouin fighters, conquering lands, Muslim leaders in control

Nations of Arabian peninsula include: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Intersection of three continentsLife in desert: families ties very strong, nomadic

dwellers - Bedouins; fighting between families and clans for pasturelands and livestock

Islam - monotheistic religion based on founder - the Prophet Muhammad; Islam brings new culture to peninsula:Five Pillars - 1)testify no other god but Allah; 2)prayer

5 times a day - face Mecca (east) - “jumma” or “jack”; 3) charity - giving alms; 4)fasting during Ramadan; 5)pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at least once

Islam spread throughout Arabian peninsula - Bedouin fighters, conquering lands, Muslim leaders in control

Relationship between politics and religionTheocracy - religious leaders control the

governmentSome countries exist as such in Southwest

Asia, on Arabian peninsulaAfter WWI and break-up of Ottoman

Empire Britain and France colonized some parts of Southwest Asia; why valuable - Suez Canal, oil

Other leader: Abdul al-Azia Ibn Saud - in name of Saud family; whole area became known as Saudi Arabia in 1932

Relationship between politics and religionTheocracy - religious leaders control the

governmentSome countries exist as such in Southwest

Asia, on Arabian peninsulaAfter WWI and break-up of Ottoman

Empire Britain and France colonized some parts of Southwest Asia; why valuable - Suez Canal, oil

Other leader: Abdul al-Azia Ibn Saud - in name of Saud family; whole area became known as Saudi Arabia in 1932

Oil dominates peninsulaHuge part of economyIn 1960 OPEC - Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries - established; Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Iran, Iraq; purpose of OPEC is to control worldwide oil prices by adjusting oil prices and production quotas

Oil dominates peninsulaHuge part of economyIn 1960 OPEC - Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries - established; Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Iran, Iraq; purpose of OPEC is to control worldwide oil prices by adjusting oil prices and production quotas

Modern Life in ArabiaDramatic changes in 20th century, largely

b/c of economic boost of oilQuick developCamels replaced by trucks, automobiles,

motorcycles1960 25% urbanized; 1990 58% urbanizedReligious duties shape livesPrayer - traffic stopsCombination of 21st century life and

religious life

Modern Life in ArabiaDramatic changes in 20th century, largely

b/c of economic boost of oilQuick developCamels replaced by trucks, automobiles,

motorcycles1960 25% urbanized; 1990 58% urbanizedReligious duties shape livesPrayer - traffic stopsCombination of 21st century life and

religious life

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

September 2000 hundreds of people died because of “civil unrest” on the Temple MountAn Israeli political leader visited Jewish

holy place - disrespectful to many MuslimsRelations between Jews, Arabs, and

Christians hostile in this regionThree major monotheistic regions -

Judaism, Christianity, IslamJerusalem: 42 square miles - strong

spiritual meaning

September 2000 hundreds of people died because of “civil unrest” on the Temple MountAn Israeli political leader visited Jewish

holy place - disrespectful to many MuslimsRelations between Jews, Arabs, and

Christians hostile in this regionThree major monotheistic regions -

Judaism, Christianity, IslamJerusalem: 42 square miles - strong

spiritual meaning

JudaismJerusalem - center of modern and ancient homelandTemple Mount: first temple constructed by King

Solomon, second temple in 538 BC - today known as Western Wall - last standing wall (destroyed by Romans in 70 AD)

ChristianityJerusalem - final suffering and crucifixion of JesusMount of Olives, Church of the Holy SepulchreChristians fought Muslims during Crusades; lands in

Muslim control until 1948 formation of IsraelIslam

After Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem third most holy cityDome of the Rock - place where the Prophet

Muhammad rose to heaven; (also, Jews believe this is place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice son Isaac)

Directly next to Western Wall = confrontation

JudaismJerusalem - center of modern and ancient homelandTemple Mount: first temple constructed by King

Solomon, second temple in 538 BC - today known as Western Wall - last standing wall (destroyed by Romans in 70 AD)

ChristianityJerusalem - final suffering and crucifixion of JesusMount of Olives, Church of the Holy SepulchreChristians fought Muslims during Crusades; lands in

Muslim control until 1948 formation of IsraelIslam

After Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem third most holy cityDome of the Rock - place where the Prophet

Muhammad rose to heaven; (also, Jews believe this is place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice son Isaac)

Directly next to Western Wall = confrontation

History of Unrest in AreaOttoman Empire (Muslim government based in Turkey) ruled

Eastern Mediterranean lands from 1520 to 1922Ottoman Empire sided with Germany during WWI; after war

empire fell apartColonialism: Britain and France divided lands; France took

northern portion - Lebanon, Syria and Britain took southern portion - Jordan and Israel

French played different religious groups against each other - animosity for this still today (Syria independent in ‘46 and Lebanon in ‘43)

Britain’s “land” known as Palestine; after, Zionism began - goal to create and support Jewish homeland in Palestine; before WWI 12% of population in Palestine was Jewish, after war Jewish population expanded; more and more during WWII, British halted Jewish immigration to Palestine (see maps on page 512)

After WWII world opinion supported establishment of Jewish nation-state; in ‘47 the UN developed plan to divide Palestine into two states - one Arab and one Jewish

Arabs in region did not agree - however, Israel established on May 14, 1948; immediately after surrounding Arab nations invaded Israel, but Israel fought back, by ‘50s Israel was firmly established nation

History of Unrest in AreaOttoman Empire (Muslim government based in Turkey) ruled

Eastern Mediterranean lands from 1520 to 1922Ottoman Empire sided with Germany during WWI; after war

empire fell apartColonialism: Britain and France divided lands; France took

northern portion - Lebanon, Syria and Britain took southern portion - Jordan and Israel

French played different religious groups against each other - animosity for this still today (Syria independent in ‘46 and Lebanon in ‘43)

Britain’s “land” known as Palestine; after, Zionism began - goal to create and support Jewish homeland in Palestine; before WWI 12% of population in Palestine was Jewish, after war Jewish population expanded; more and more during WWII, British halted Jewish immigration to Palestine (see maps on page 512)

After WWII world opinion supported establishment of Jewish nation-state; in ‘47 the UN developed plan to divide Palestine into two states - one Arab and one Jewish

Arabs in region did not agree - however, Israel established on May 14, 1948; immediately after surrounding Arab nations invaded Israel, but Israel fought back, by ‘50s Israel was firmly established nation

Caught in middle? - Palestinian Arabs and Christians

People either fled or forced to leave area - refugee camps

Land designated for Palestinians on West Bank and Gaza Strip (however, under Israeli control)

In ‘60s, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formed to regain land for Palestinian ArabsPLO Mahmoud Abbas became prime minister

(2003) agreed to support peace plan called the “road map”

Caught in middle? - Palestinian Arabs and Christians

People either fled or forced to leave area - refugee camps

Land designated for Palestinians on West Bank and Gaza Strip (however, under Israeli control)

In ‘60s, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formed to regain land for Palestinian ArabsPLO Mahmoud Abbas became prime minister

(2003) agreed to support peace plan called the “road map”

Palestinian Arabs in Israel - 3.6 million peopleRefugees struggle to find food, shelter,

employmentCivil Wars in Lebanon and Cyprus; in ‘82

Israel invaded Lebanon Infrastructure:

Countries of Eastern Mediterranean subregion have great potential for agriculture, tourism, trade, but lack infrastructure

Palestinian Arabs in Israel - 3.6 million peopleRefugees struggle to find food, shelter,

employmentCivil Wars in Lebanon and Cyprus; in ‘82

Israel invaded Lebanon Infrastructure:

Countries of Eastern Mediterranean subregion have great potential for agriculture, tourism, trade, but lack infrastructure

Modern Life in Eastern MediterraneanSome restaurants = separate sections

based on genderCafes = men onlyLast meal of day - between 8 and 11 pm;

large meal!Variety of cultures - Shi’ites, Sunnis, Druze,

Christians, Maronite (Eastern Orthodox practices), immigrants, Arab Muslims, Bedouins, Baha’i faith of Christians

Modern Life in Eastern MediterraneanSome restaurants = separate sections

based on genderCafes = men onlyLast meal of day - between 8 and 11 pm;

large meal!Variety of cultures - Shi’ites, Sunnis, Druze,

Christians, Maronite (Eastern Orthodox practices), immigrants, Arab Muslims, Bedouins, Baha’i faith of Christians

Section 3: The NortheastSection 3: The NortheastIn ‘88 over 5,000 Kurds were murdered

from a chemical weapons attack by IraqKurds occupied lands for thousands of

years = clashes of land major issue in Northeast part of region

In ‘88 over 5,000 Kurds were murdered from a chemical weapons attack by Iraq

Kurds occupied lands for thousands of years = clashes of land major issue in Northeast part of region

Early CivilizationsFertile Crescent - Mesopotamia - land between the

rivers - Tigris and EuphratesHittites - empire stretched across TurkeyPersia - present day Iran

Ethnic and Religious VarietyTurks, Kurds, Persians - how are they different? In

language, religionSunni - called “Sunni” because they accept the “sunnas” or

oral traditions and interpretations of the Koran after Muhammad’s death; believe that caliph or successor of Muhammad should always be elected; follow Abu - elected as first Caliph after Muhammad’s death; also, Sunni belief is that a global caliphate will one day emerge - a little more than 80% of Muslims are Sunni

Shi’ite - believe leadership should be directly linked to the people of the house - or descendant of Mohammed; many Shi’ite’s believe Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from ‘78 brought legitimacy to religious leadership; belief is that global caliphate will return

Early CivilizationsFertile Crescent - Mesopotamia - land between the

rivers - Tigris and EuphratesHittites - empire stretched across TurkeyPersia - present day Iran

Ethnic and Religious VarietyTurks, Kurds, Persians - how are they different? In

language, religionSunni - called “Sunni” because they accept the “sunnas” or

oral traditions and interpretations of the Koran after Muhammad’s death; believe that caliph or successor of Muhammad should always be elected; follow Abu - elected as first Caliph after Muhammad’s death; also, Sunni belief is that a global caliphate will one day emerge - a little more than 80% of Muslims are Sunni

Shi’ite - believe leadership should be directly linked to the people of the house - or descendant of Mohammed; many Shi’ite’s believe Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from ‘78 brought legitimacy to religious leadership; belief is that global caliphate will return

ClashesOver Land

Increased since WWI - Kurds were promised homeland, but never received

Iran has become home to refugees fleeing from Afghanistan and Iraq - largest refugee population in world

Persian Gulf War - 90-91 for access to strategic oil fields - Iraq and Kuwait

Over Leadership“war on terrorism” - many “disliked” BushOverthrow of Taliban (or Taleban) - March of

2002 out of power in AfghanistanOverthrow of Saddam Hussein - Operation Iraqi

Freedom in March of 2003 - where were the weapons of mass destruction

ClashesOver Land

Increased since WWI - Kurds were promised homeland, but never received

Iran has become home to refugees fleeing from Afghanistan and Iraq - largest refugee population in world

Persian Gulf War - 90-91 for access to strategic oil fields - Iraq and Kuwait

Over Leadership“war on terrorism” - many “disliked” BushOverthrow of Taliban (or Taleban) - March of

2002 out of power in AfghanistanOverthrow of Saddam Hussein - Operation Iraqi

Freedom in March of 2003 - where were the weapons of mass destruction

ReformArea has limited agricultural land;

production must become efficientOil = money = assist infrastructureMaking progress? Turkey and Iran -

hydroelectric plants, agriculture, steelContinued war has affected area/region -

Afghanistan

ReformArea has limited agricultural land;

production must become efficientOil = money = assist infrastructureMaking progress? Turkey and Iran -

hydroelectric plants, agriculture, steelContinued war has affected area/region -

Afghanistan

Modern versus tradition lifeAfghanistan - Taliban, civil liberties,

education for allTurkey - fundamentalist religious views

Modern versus tradition lifeAfghanistan - Taliban, civil liberties,

education for allTurkey - fundamentalist religious views

“Waltz with Bashir“Waltz with Bashir One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a

recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images …

How does this apply to our learning of Southwest Asia? The Lebanon War of 1982 -

Many Palestinian refugees from Israel Aggressive attitude between PLO and Israel over land June 6, 1982 - operation peace of Galilee - to push PLO forces back 40 KM to

the north (led by Ariel Sharon) Israel continued to push PLO north and eventually out of country - moved

headquarters Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel (a Christian) was assassinated Phalangists - a Christian militia group allied with Israel - with Sabra and

Shatila Massacre - at least 800 refugees killed Over 17,000 Lebanese were killed; 675 Israeli soldiers killed

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images …

How does this apply to our learning of Southwest Asia? The Lebanon War of 1982 -

Many Palestinian refugees from Israel Aggressive attitude between PLO and Israel over land June 6, 1982 - operation peace of Galilee - to push PLO forces back 40 KM to

the north (led by Ariel Sharon) Israel continued to push PLO north and eventually out of country - moved

headquarters Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel (a Christian) was assassinated Phalangists - a Christian militia group allied with Israel - with Sabra and

Shatila Massacre - at least 800 refugees killed Over 17,000 Lebanese were killed; 675 Israeli soldiers killed