Clockwise from top left: Protesters gathering in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt; Demonstrators marching through Habib Bourguib Avenue in Tunis, Tunisia; Political dissidents in Sana'a, Yemen, demanding the resignation of the president; Protests in Douma,Syria (source: wikipedia).

The 2011 Arab Springin 10 questions…

Political map (1) : countries and head towns.

1. Label the map below with the names of the following countries: Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Yemen , Oman , Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran. Refer to map 1.2. Add a bold border around each of these regions : Maghreb ; the Middle east (map 2 on next slide)3. Label each area.

The Maghreb Union countries

Traditional definition of the Middle East G8 definition of the Greater Middle East Central Asia, areas sometimes associated with the Middle East (socio-political connections)

Map 2 : Regional divisions.

Historical background : Ottoman domination and colonisation.4. Where did the Ottoman Empire extend to at the end of the 17th c.?

Historical background - the Ottoman domination : 5. which countries escaped

Ottoman colonisation ? 6. Which countries were part of the Ottoman empire ? 7. When

were they granted independence ? (click on to see animation).

European colonisation in the 19th-20th c. : 8. what new divisions were brought about ?

9. What are the ethnic and religious divisions of the Middle-East? Click here and study the case of Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Yemen.

Middle East protests: Country by country

Following the fall of the presidents of Egypt and Tunisia, unrest has been spreading throughout the region. Could a domino effect sweep more leaders from power?

Visit the BBC news website and select 2 or 3 countries to understand what was the specific background of popular uprisings in each Arab country.

10. Fill in the following table to sum up the main ideas.

Country Challenged leadership

Corruption ranking

Poverty Median age*

Type of protest**

Motives Current situation

The 2011 uprisings – overview.

* Median age : the point where half the population is older and half younger.**See next slide.

Government overthrown Sustained civil disorder and governmental changes Protests and governmental changes Major protests Minor protests