The Modern Middle East

1. Geographically :“The Middle East/ Near East”– Egypt, Arabian Peninsula and surrounding

countries, territory between Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Persian Gulf

2. Linguistically/ Ethnically :

“The Arab World” – Usually identified through Arab speakers of the

Arabic language (language spread through Islam)• Over 11 major languages in use throughout this region

(Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Berber, Kurdish- top 5)• Over 30 ethnic groups (see maps for diversity)

3. Religiously :

“The Islamic World”– Identified by followers of Islam in areas with

large populations of Muslims and/or theocratic government • Includes Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Northern Africa• Over 10 main religious groups in this region

What do we call this region and why?

Even though Arabic is the main language utilized:

There are many dialects of Arabic (mixed with native indigenous languages)

which could be considered a different language altogether and as a result many do not understand other Arabic speakers.

Arabs:shaded yellow on map

1290’s- created by Osman, a Turkoman1923- Officially becomes Republic of Turkey last of the empire is dissolved in 1922

Egypt• Gamal Abdul Nasser-

– Deposed pro-western King Farouk

– Very popular nationalistic Pan-Arab leader– Needed $$ for Aswan Dam (US refused, USSR agreed)– Weapons- US refused, Czechs (USSR) agreed– THUS, nationalized Suez Canal – Very popular leader among

nonaligned countries standing up to strong Western leaders

(West NOT happy… Cold War)

Iran• Iran– 1953• Shah Reza Pahlavi (king)• Oil- Brits controlled• Mossadeq- nationalist leader• CIA coup- rid Iran of Mossadeq’s influence, thus keeping oil

profits and a pro-western leader (also viewed as containment of communism)

– 1979• Iranian Revolution

– Shah deposed by Ayatollah Khomeini– Extreme religious nationalist movement backwards– Very anti-western (step back in women’s rights, education, etc).

• Iran Hostage Crisis- US Embassy attacked, 66 Americans held– Freed in 1981 (Argo film)

Crash Course

Revolution in Iran: 1979

ISRAELCrash Course- Israel

• Creation of Israel 1. 19th century Zionism (Jewish nationalism)2. Balfour Declaration, 1917 –

British intent to create a Jewish “national home”3. British mandate of Palestine - After WWI/ fall of Ottoman Empire control

-11% population- Jewish; 10% Christian - Also promised control to Arab Palestinians 4. 1947- UN voted to create 2 states (one Arab, one Jewish)5. May 1948- State of Israel6. 1948 Arab- Israeli War7. 1967 Six Day War & 1973 Yom Kippur War

- Israeli troops won (gained land)

Iraq– Saddam Hussein and Ba’ath Party

• General of military in 1976• 1979- became President (forced resignation of Al-

Bakr)– Chemical gases against Kurds– Persian Gulf War (Kuwait and oil)

• Declawed Saddam, left in power. – After 9/11:

• Weapons of Mass Destruction claim –false• 2003- taken out of power, Iraq needed infrastructure to

be rebuilt.

Afghanistan1979- USSR invades:

• US helps arm Afghan “freedom fighters”, mujahideen to fight USSR

-Osama bin Laden:

Wealthy Saudi who joins the fight against the non-believing Soviet invaders

-Taliban:

Afghan refugees educated in Pakistani religious schools, madrassas.

- “Talib”= student’ ; taliban= students

- Return to Afghanistan

- Most strict interpretation of Qu’ran

in history, ruled from 1996-2001.

- US invades after 9/11 due to aid to

Al Qaeda.

-Al Qaeda:

- Islamic fundamental extremist terror organization

- Trained in Afghanistan, led by bin Laden, responsible for attacks on World Trade Center in NYC, on Sept. 11, 2001

-Ideological not national group