🧆History of the Middle East – 1800 to Present Unit 1 – Middle East: Geography, Peoples, Religions

Key Geographic Features

• Middle East spans three continents includes parts of Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Southeast Europe
• Major bodies of water surrounding the region
  • Mediterranean Sea to the west
  • Red Sea to the southwest
  • Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea to the south
  • Black Sea and Caspian Sea to the north
• Crucial trade routes (Silk Roads, Indian Ocean trade network) historically connected the Middle East to other regions
• Diverse topography ranges from vast deserts (Arabian, Sahara) to fertile river valleys (Nile, Tigris, Euphrates)
• Mountainous areas (Taurus Mountains, Zagros Mountains) created natural barriers and shaped settlement patterns
• Strategic waterways (Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Strait of Hormuz) control access to important maritime trade routes
• Arid and semi-arid climate dominates much of the region with hot summers and mild winters

Major Ethnic and Cultural Groups

• Arabs constitute the largest ethnic group in the Middle East concentrated in North Africa and Arabian Peninsula
• Persians primarily inhabit Iran and have a distinct language (Farsi) and cultural traditions
• Turks originate from Central Asia and established empires (Ottoman, Seljuk) that shaped the region's history
• Kurds are a significant ethnic minority spread across several countries (Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria) seeking autonomy
• Berbers indigenous to North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya) maintain unique cultural practices
• Armenians historically inhabited eastern Anatolia and faced persecution (Armenian Genocide) in the early 20th century
• Jews have ancient roots in the region and established the state of Israel in 1948 leading to ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict

Religious Landscape

• Islam is the dominant religion in the Middle East with two main branches
  • Sunni Islam followed by a majority of Muslims worldwide
  • Shia Islam has a significant presence in Iran, Iraq, and Bahrain
• Christianity has a long history in the region as the birthplace of Jesus and home to ancient Christian communities (Copts, Maronites, Assyrians)
• Judaism originated in the Middle East and considers Jerusalem a holy city central to Jewish identity
• Zoroastrianism was the official religion of ancient Persian empires before the rise of Islam
• Bahá'í Faith emerged in 19th-century Iran and faces persecution in many Middle Eastern countries
• Druze are an ethnoreligious group primarily found in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel with a unique blend of Islamic, Christian, and philosophical beliefs
• Yazidis are an ethnoreligious minority concentrated in northern Iraq with a syncretic faith incorporating elements of Islam, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism

Historical Context

• Ancient civilizations (Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians) laid the foundation for the region's cultural development
• Hellenistic period following Alexander the Great's conquests spread Greek influence across the Middle East
• Roman and Byzantine empires controlled much of the region and left lasting architectural and cultural legacies
• Rise of Islam in the 7th century CE united the Middle East under a common religious and cultural identity
• Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries) saw significant advancements in science, mathematics, literature, and art
• Crusades (11th-13th centuries) brought European powers into conflict with Islamic states in the region
• Ottoman Empire (14th-20th centuries) ruled much of the Middle East and shaped its political and social structures
• European colonialism (19th-20th centuries) divided the region into spheres of influence and created modern nation-states

Societal Structure

• Traditional social hierarchy based on family, clan, and tribal affiliations still influences modern Middle Eastern societies
• Patriarchal gender norms and conservative attitudes towards women's rights prevail in many countries
• Extended family units (hamula) play a central role in social, economic, and political life
• Honor and shame are important cultural values that shape individual and collective behavior
• Hospitality (diyafa) is a deeply ingrained social custom that emphasizes generosity towards guests
• Religious and ethnic identities often intersect with social status and political power
• Rapid urbanization in the 20th century transformed social structures and created new challenges (poverty, inequality, social unrest)

Economic Factors

• Oil and natural gas reserves are a major source of wealth and economic development for many Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait)
• Agriculture historically played a significant role in the region's economy with crops (dates, olives, wheat, cotton) adapted to local conditions
• Tourism is an important industry for countries with rich cultural heritage and natural attractions (Egypt, Turkey, Jordan)
• Suez Canal is a vital waterway for global trade connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas
• Remittances from migrant workers in the Persian Gulf states contribute to the economies of their home countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine)
• Economic diversification efforts aim to reduce dependence on oil exports and create sustainable growth
• Regional economic integration initiatives (Gulf Cooperation Council) seek to promote trade and investment among member states

Political Systems

• Monarchies (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco) and republics (Egypt, Syria, Iraq) are the main forms of government in the Middle East
• Authoritarianism and limited political freedoms characterize many Middle Eastern countries
• Islamic law (sharia) influences legal systems to varying degrees alongside civil and customary law
• Arab-Israeli conflict has been a major source of regional tension and instability since the establishment of Israel in 1948
• Pan-Arabism movement in the 20th century sought to unite Arab states under a common political and cultural identity
• Iranian Revolution of 1979 established an Islamic republic and altered the geopolitical balance in the region
• Arab Spring uprisings (2010-2012) challenged authoritarian regimes and led to political transitions in some countries (Tunisia, Egypt)

Cultural Contributions

• Islamic art and architecture (mosques, palaces, calligraphy) have made significant contributions to world heritage (Alhambra, Taj Mahal)
• Arabic language and literature (poetry, storytelling) have influenced cultures beyond the Middle East
• Persian literature (Rumi, Hafez) and miniature painting have had a lasting impact on world art and culture
• Middle Eastern music (maqam) and dance (belly dancing) have gained global popularity
• Cuisine of the region (hummus, falafel, kebab) has become internationally recognized and appreciated
• Scientific and intellectual achievements during the Islamic Golden Age (algebra, optics, medicine) laid the foundation for modern sciences
• Contributions to philosophy and theology by scholars (Avicenna, Averroes, Al-Ghazali) shaped medieval and early modern European thought