The History of:

I. Reviewing Early History…A. Civilizations prospered in the Tigris-Euphrates River

Valley1) Hammurabi’s Code creates an early system for social justice2) Modern Islamic Law was derived from Hammurabi’s Code and

Muslim beliefs (Shari 'a Law)

B. 500s B.C.- Persian Empire emerges as the dominant power

C. 300s B.C.- Greeks conquer the regionD. 100 B.C.- Romans move into the Middle

EastE. 600s-700s A.D.- Arabs conquer the entire

Middle East and Arab culture thrives Becomes the wealthiest and most

dominant in the world

F. 900s- Era of chaos in the region…1. Aryan invaders from Central Asia move

into the region and push out the Arab and Byzantine Empires, however many convert to Islam

2. This disrupts trade and Christian territories

G. The Pope launches the Crusades in the 1090’s

Leads to 200 yrs. Of Euro domination

H. 1200s- Mongols led by Genghis Kahn invade and destroy Baghdad, Iraq

This weakens the Persian Empire

I. 1300s- Ottoman Turks invade and gain Constantinople

Establish capital and rename it Istanbul

J. Turks invade Persia and establish the Safavid Empire

Also invades India and creates the Mughal Empire

K. Turkish rule in the region peaks around 1600

A. -Ottoman control over Europe concluded by the 1600’s -By the 1700’s the Europeans became a powerful force…

1. Russia won a series of wars in the 1700’s in which they took land from the Turks

2. France under Napoleon invaded and took control of Egypt in 1798

European success surprised the Ottoman leaders because Europe was not military a power at the time

3. Result: Ottoman’s reacted to the European expedition in two ways:

a) 1) Embraced Western ways (military techniques and weaponry)

b) 2) Arabs blamed the Ottoman leaders and pushed for a return to true Arab culture…the idea of 1 Arab nation is revived!

II. Rise of the Europeans

3. Internal problems, accused genocide, and increased European influence damaged the Ottoman Empire and its' wealth disappeared

4. In one last shot at survival the Ottoman Empire joined the Germans and Austrians in World War I. Not the best choice…

B. Turks in Persia ran into trouble with the Europeans in 1700’s

1. Persian rule didn’t go very well

-By 1900 Persia was divided into Spheres of Influence by Britain in the South and Russia in the North *(European Imperialism)

Britain found oil in Persia in 1908 which has led to Western involvement in the region ever since

A. Ottoman Turks fought well in World War I

B. This forced the British to make treaties with the Arabs in order to defeat the Turks

1. McMahon-Hussein Agreement of 1915-1916 promised the Arabs their own nation(s) if they helped Britain defeat the Ottomans

2. At the same time the French and British signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 that said that they

would keep the Arab territory for themselves

3. British issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917. It said that Jews should have their own nation in the area referred to as Palestine

C.Britain and France ended up sticking with the Sykes-Picot Agreement. They divided the Middle East into “Mandates” or small regions under temporary European control.

III. “The Betrayal”

Results: 1.) Arabs felt betrayed and haven’t fully trusted the West since

2.) The boundaries set up under Sykes-Picot largely remain today

A. Britain and France installed puppet governments (mainly monarchies with royal families)

B. Iraq and Iran allied with Nazi Germany in the 1930’s to reduce British control; but were invaded and overpowered during World War II by the Allies

C. World War II brought independence to most of the region

… WHY?

E. In 1948 Israel became a “real” nation. They were immediately attacked by Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and troops from Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Yemen

IV. Mandate Period (1920-1948)

with Winston Churchill’s support, the British gave the throne of Iraq to the Hashemite King Faisal, 1920.

D. In 1932 the Al Saud family took over Saudi Arabia. U.S. oil companies moved in during 1938 and we’ve been allies since!

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=sRj9ZhwQiRHYfM&tbnid=ICByb83V4Yp_EM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.oilcrisis.com/zagar/hawaii/&ei=2QExUbX9EMuQ0QHq0oDgCw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNF8vY84pdjb2L558vK9gI5Lx8i2Kg&ust=1362246804608951

V. Oil in the Middle East

A. Two of the most important natural resources are:1. Natural gas2. Oil

B. They bring wealth into the region and are needed by much of the world

C. About half the world’s known oil reserves are located in the Middle East.

C. Oil Reserves & Economy

1. The Southwest Asian countries with the largest reserves of natural gas and oil are:a) Saudi Arabiab) Iranc) Iraq d) Kuwait

2. These countries have seen tremendous growth in national wealth and an improved standard of living in the past 50 years.

3. Some other countries have smaller reserves, especially around the Arabian Gulf.

4. Those countries without the reserves have had a much harder time improving living conditions for their people.

5. This difference has lead to much conflict.

SS7E6c. Explain the primary function of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

(OPEC).

• In the 1960’s several of these countries joined with other oil-rich countries around the world to form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

• They wanted to work together to try and regulate the supply and price of oil.

• The first 5 countries were:– Kuwait– Iraq– Saudi Arabia– Iran– Venezuela

• These countries along with others who have joined since 1960, continue to decide how much oil they will produce.

• That determines the price on the world market.– When they produce less, the price on the world market

goes up.– When the increase production, the price on the world

market goes down.

SS7E7c. Explain the role of oil in the economies Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

• Oil is one of the most important and valuable natural resources in the Middle East.

• Oil and natural gas are considered fossil fuels which means they were created centuries ago.

• They are also non-renewable natural resources which means they cannot be replaced

• Most of the world’s industrial nations depend on a steady supply of both resources

• The US imports over half of its supply, almost 18 million barrels every day.

• For this reason, countries in the Middle East have a steady market for all the oil and natural gas they produce.– Saudi Arabia and Iran are two of the world’s largest

suppliers / producers of oil. • Over half of the world’s known supply comes from them.

– Israel has very few natural resources and practically no oil. • They have a high industrial economy, so the world price of oil has a

huge impact on their economy.

Another reason water is so important in the region…