Chapter 22 Notes- Human Geography of Southwest Asia

Religion, Politics, & Oil

Section 1: The Arabian PeninsulaIslam- based on the teachings of Muhammad.

MonotheisticMosque- place of worshipAll Muslims (followers of Islam) perform the 5 pillars.

Section 1: The Arabian Peninsula

5 Pillars1. Faith (Iman or Shahadah)- no God but Allah, & Muhammad is messenger of Allah2. Prayer (Salah)- praying 5x’s per day towards Mecca3. Charity (Zakah)- giving money to the poor.

Section 1: The Arabian Peninsula

5 Pillars cont.-4. Fasting (Saum)- during month of Ramadan, do not eat or drink anything between sunrise & sunset.5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)- make pilgrimage to Mecca once during life.

Section 1: The Arabian Peninsula

Theocratic- religious leaders control the government.

many of the governments in the region are thisAyatollah- Muslim religious leader

Section 1: The Arabian Peninsula

OPEC- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries-

Members set worldwide oil prices & production quotas

DON’T WRITE- Members include Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

Which countries have the largest reserves of crude oil?

CountryCrude oil reserves

(million barrels)

Saudi Arabia 262,697

Iraq 112,500

Iran 99,080

United Arab Emirates 97,800

Kuwait 96,500

Section 1: The Arabian Peninsula

Arabic Women-Most cover themselves from head to toe in a burqa (Arabic covering)

• Modesty & being covered is believed to be pleasing to god.

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

3 major religions were all started in Southwest Asia

Judaism, Christianity, & Islam All 3 claim Jerusalem as a holy city.

Section 2:The Eastern MediterraneanJews- Jerusalem is holiest city

Holiest site- Western Wall (Wailing Wall)Whole area is known as the Temple MountDON’T WRITE

• First Temple built by King Solomon then destroyed• Temple rebuilt• Second Temple destroyed by the Romans• Only piece left standing is known as the Western Wall• No Jewish temple on site since 70 A.D.

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

DON’T WRITEChristians cherish the land as the area where Jesus Christ was crucified & for the holy areas of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (where crucified) & Mount of the Olives.

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

Islam claims Jerusalem as 3rd holiest city behind Mecca & MedinaDome of the Rock- spot where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad rose into heaven

AKA- Haram Ash-Sharif (Temple Mount)Next to Western WallSite of frequent clashes between Muslims & Jews

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

Ottoman Empire- Muslim based government, started in Turkey

Lasted from 1520-1920 (‘til end of WW1)

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

Zionism- goal of the creation & support of a Jewish homeland in PalestineDON’T WRITEAfter WW1 Britain controlled Palestine

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

After WW2 world sentiment favored giving the Jews a national homeland. May 14th, 1948 Israel was established.Immediately AttackedDON’T WRITE- Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, & Yemen attacked.

Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)- formed to regain the land for Arabs

Political & Military means used

Section 3: The Northeast

The Kurds- ethnic group in Southwestern Asia

Stateless nation5,000+ were gassed to death by Saddam Hussein’s army. Saddam was executed for this

Section 3: The NortheastMesopotamia- many civilizations were started here in the “land between the rivers” (AKA The Fertile Crescent)

SumerBabyloniaAssyriaChaldeaHittitesPersia

Section 3: The Northeast

Two main branches of Islam

Sunni Muslim- 83% of all MuslimsShi’ite Muslim

Section 3: The NortheastTaliban- fundamentalist Muslim political group in Afghanistan

•1955 Afghanistan asks US for military ties, we say no

•Afghanistan looks to USSR,

•Pro-communist ideas were adopted into the gov. and a Communist Party was in place in Afghanistan

•1978 pro soviet groups staged a coup and installed their own puppet government

•1978 - New regime announces changes such as equal rights for women, land reforms..

•Protests result from these reforms (pro-Islamic groups)

•1979 Soviets invade

•Afghan army collapses as revolts take place all over, govt. asks for military aid from US

•1980 - Resistance to Soviet occupation forms in Afghanistan & Pakistan called the mujahideen or “holy warriors”,

• US CIA begins to support these rebels with arms supplied through Pakistan

•10 long wasteful years of war in Afghanistan

•UN sponsored peace talks with Afghanistan. Soviet Union, Pakistan, and the US

•1996 - various factions fight for control of the Afghan government,

•Many ethnic warlords and leaders battle each other

•Taliban group – take charge by bribing local warlords and making false promises

•Taliban forces take the capital of Kabul and about 75% of the country

•make massive changes

• establish a very strict form of Islamic law

•Brought major sweeping reforms, reforms against women

No television, music or movies

No whistling or clapping

No dancing

No shorts

No photography

No smoking

Men must have a beard and wear a head covering

Women:

•No jobs, must stay at home

•Must wear the burqa and be with a male relative outside the house

•No schooling/education

•No revealing ankles/ no white socks

•No treatment by male doctors

•No make-up or brightly colored clothes

•No associating with male shopkeepers

•No laughing loudly•No high heels

•No driving•No riding bicycles

•No washing clothes next to a river unless a male relative is

present•Windows must be painted or

covered

Osama bin Laden