Modern Day Middle East

What characteristics make this area a region?CULTURE:

• Religion- Islam• Speak Arabic• Similar clothing • Share history

GEOGRAPHY:• Desert• Hot- DRY• Oil• Mountains• Nile, Tigris, Euphrates

What leads to conflict?Fighting over resources:

• oil• land• land that oil is on• control over the

resource ( i.e. who gets to use it)

Fighting over Governemnt:

• Gov. is oppressive ( taking away rights)

Fighting over religion:

• religion’s role in everyday life• religion’s role in how

people see/treat other groups

• Religious majorities in an area

RESOURCES

Over half the world’s oil ( petroleum, natural gas etc.) is found in the Middle East mainly in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Kuwait

Saudi Arabia is the main exporter of oil to the US

OPEC forms Organization of Petroleum Exporting CountriesIncludes Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia and

VenezuelaGovernments of those countries control the oil

industries in their countryGot A LOT of power: can embargo, control

prices

OIL

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What can you use it for?Good: makes countries richBad: Economies depend on oil BRAINSTORM: why is it bad to depend on

one type of resource for money?

Conflicts over oil

• The Iran Iraq Wars• The

Persian Gulf War

ReligionThe major religion of the middle east is

Islam, but there is a minority of Judaism and Christianity there

All 3 religions started in this region and have holy cities here ( Sometimes the same city like Jerusalem)

Conflicts

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religions disagree about: How strict people

should follow the religion

Role of religion in government

sometimes conflicts that start in religion can lead to other types of conflict

• The following issues have ties to religious disagreements:

• Sunni vs Shi’ite• Westernization• Woman rights/roles• Palestinian/ Israeli

conflict• Terrorism

A Brief History of the Arab Israeli Conflict

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Watch the video first. Check for BIAS. Watch this video second, check for BIAS Britain owned Palestine ( now Israel) before WWII During and after the Holocaust, many European

Jews fled persecution. They wanted to return to their historic homeland.

The British made two promises: to give Arabs a homeland but then promised the Jews the same homeland

Left to the UN to decide who got what The decision: 54% goes to Israel, 46% to

Palestine

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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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Palestinians are not happy with the decision

Series of wars break out Israeli wins and gains more

land Fighting continues to this day

BOTH sides have done so much to each other that it is hard to make peace. Terrorist Attacks Military Attacks Violating human rights

Thoughts to ponder(there is no set answer)

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Both have claim to the landOne group of refugees creates another group of

refugeesRefugees do not have equal rights in other

countries. Could giving these people citizenship help solve the problem or create more problems?

How do you break a cycle of hatred?Would creating a Palestinian country solve the

situation or make it worse?

The Final Question

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How do you think these two groups of people should make peace? What would make them able to both live happy?

Westernization

GOOD BAD

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Gives a higher standard of living (“modern conveniences”)

Easier, exciting way of life

Better technology and business

Takes away traditional culture

Can go against strict religious beliefs ( i.e.. How women dress)

Terrorism CAN SOMETIMES be a response ( fundamentalists think they need to fight against westernization)