Culture of the Middle East

Bazaars• A permanent marketplace or street of shops• First started along trade routes

Languages

• Main Language? – Arabic

• Other languages spoken in the Middle East– Hebrew (mostly in Israel)– Persian (main language in Iran)– Turkish (in Turkey)

1. Do all Middle Eastern countries have oil? 2. Are all wealthy, highly developed countries oil producers?

Oil in the Middle East • Not all Middle Eastern countries have oil – OIL: S.A., Iraq, U.A.E., Kuwait, Iran, Syria – No OIL: Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon

Europe and US have always been very interested in the Middle East. WHY?

30% of the world’s current oil production from M.E.

Secular vs. Fundamentalist

• Secular: Loose, non – religious beliefs.

• Fundamentalist – strict belief in a religious system.

Role of ReligionSecular – def: not religious

Secularism – often used to describe societies with separation of church and state (religion does not affect laws & government)

Middle Eastern countries that are more secular = Israel, Tunisia, Egypt, Kuwait and Turkey

More religious countries in Middle East = Iran, Saudi Arabia

Modern v. Traditional

Modern – willing to change ex: Turkey, Israel

Traditional – resists change – wants things to stay the same as they have always beenex: Iran, Saudi Arabia

Sources of anti-US sentiment• Growing U.S. presence in 1970s: bases in Gulf States

• U.S. support for Israel

• Supporting dictatorships in Arab states

• US intervention in Iraq

• “Cultural imperialism”– Also known as?

Americanization (If it’s American culture taking over)

Fundamentalists• A small amount of people do not like the changes

they see in the Middle East. • They believe that these changes go against Islamic

beliefs. • We often call these people Islamic Fundamentalists

or Islamists– They believe that the Qur'an should be strictly

interpreted (do exactly as it says) – Ex: ISIS/ISIL, Boko Haram, Al Queda

• If fundamentalists use violence to try to stop change, we call them terrorists.

Extremists • Beliefs far outside the perceived center of society

that violates society’s moral standards• Fundamentalists and Terrorists would be

extremists. ex: *Al Qaeda / ISIS

*Zionist extremists*Christian fundamentalists who bomb

abortion clinics (are also terrorists)

Review Questions1. These people believe in a strict interpretation of

their holy book (can be Christian, Muslim, etc.)2. These people believe in using violence in order

to achieve some political goal. 3. Name two reasons why there may be anti-US

sentiment in some Middle Eastern countries.4. A Jewish place of worship is called ___5. A Muslim place of worship is called ___ 6. What is an alluvial plane?

Practice Review Questions1. What is the dominant language in the Middle East and

North Africa?2. Name three countries in the Middle East where #1 is not

the dominant religion. 3. What is the dominant religion in the Middle East and

North Africa? 4. Name one country where # 3 is not the dominant religion. 5. Gaza and the West Bank are two areas where conflict

exists between ____ and ___. 6. What is the holy book of Islam? 7. What is the holy book of Judaism?8. What is the holy book of Christianity?9. Why is Jerusalem such a highly sought (wanted) city?

1. What is the number one economic activity in the Middle East and North Africa?

2. Which level of economic activity is #1? (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary)

3. To which continent does the Middle East belong? 4. What is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers called? 5. What is an alluvial plane? 6. Why did the first human civilization form in the Middle East?7. What is a hearth? 8. The Middle East a hearth for which two major innovations? 9. What is cuneiform? 10.Which resource is most scarce in the Middle East? 11.How are countries helping to alleviate (to make less) this scarcity (from #9)?

Practice Review Questions

11. What is this? a. Wadib. Ergc. Steepesd. Aquifer

12. What are these?e. Wadif. Ergg. Steepesh. Aquifer

13. What is this? a. Aquiferb. Oasisc. Ergd. Steepes

14. Petroleum is: e. A renewable resourcef. A nonrenewable resourceg. A tertiary resourceh. An aquifer

15. Which letter represents each river?Tigris?Euphrates?Nile?

16. Which direction does each river flow?Tigris?Euphrates?Nile?

A

BC

A=Judaism B=Christianity C=Islam1. Followers believe there is only one

God – The God of Abraham2. The Old Testament is an important

religious text3. The main religious teachings are found

in the Torah4. The main religious teachings are found

in the Bible5. The main religious teachings are found

in the Koran (or Qur’an)6. Religious services are held at a mosque7. A pilgrimage to Mecca is an important

religious duty8. Religious services are held in a

synagogue9. Easter one of the most important

religious holidays10. Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and

Muhammad are prophets

11. Jesus is the son of God12. Charity and good works are important

parts of religious life13. Important religious sites are located in

Jerusalem14. Good deeds will be rewarded in the

afterlife15. Arabic is the sacred language16. God is called Allah17. There is no sacred language18. Divided into sects19. Hebrew is the sacred language20. God is called Adonai21. Friday is the most important prayer

service22. Sunday is the most important prayer

service