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The Middle East today. Iraq. Most of the country is between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers Farming was the main activity until the 1920’s Oil fields discovered Billions spent on development of country (roads, hospitals, airports, universities, irrigation….). Oil wealth and war. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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THE MIDDLE EAST TODAY
IRAQ
OIL WEALTH AND WAR Most of the country is between the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers Farming was the main activity until the
1920’s Oil fields discovered Billions spent on development of country
(roads, hospitals, airports, universities, irrigation….)
Iraq seeking to become dominant power
Stalemate: many lives lost, no territory gained
Iraq couldn’t ship it’s oil, so had to buy weapons on credit U.S. support against Iran Iraq heavily in debt
WAR WITH IRAN 1980-1988
WHOOPS.That guy on the left? That’s Donald Rumsfeld. Twenty years after this he would orchestrate the war against Saddam.
THE FIRST GULF WAR: 1990 Hussein declared Kuwait part of Iraq
(for it’s oil) Coalition of Western forces drove them
out in 1991 Economic sanctions (can’t sell it’s oil) 85,000 dead soldiers Baghdad badly damaged
THE ARABIAN PENINSULA-MOSTS AND LEASTS
“Empty Quarter” = desert the size of Texas
No bodies of fresh water Biggest oil reserves of any country
CHANGING LIVES Before oil
Fishing on the coasts Farming and herding at the oases Bedouin nomads herded in the deserts
DISCOVERY OF OIL IN THE 30’S Enormous wealth
People move to the cities Live in modern, AC houses Executives, engineers, programmers
MODERNIZATION Much money/few people = improved
standard of living Health care is nearly free 22 Desalination plants
Seawater into freshwater
THE FUTURE Oil reserves have 30-60 years left Countries are starting to look to other
industries (banking, chemicals…) Require many foreign workers
In some countries, more foreign workers than citizens
TURKEY AND IRAN Different from other countries – Islam
but NOT Arabic Different languages, different ancestors
TURKEY Scholars and Merchants from the
Middle East introduced the Turks of Central Asia to Islam.
When the Turks began conquering the Middle East, they came as Muslim warriors.
Language and culture are Turkish, NOT Arab.
THE “FATHER OF THE TURKS” WWI ends in 1918, and winners divide
up Ottoman Empire Mustafa Kemal led a revolution against
the Sultan – declares Republic of Turkey in 1923. Modernization- separation of church and
state Outlawed fez, veils Women could vote, hold office. Everyone
could attend school
TURKEY TODAY Unstable economy since the ’60s Constant conflict between secular and
Islamic groups for control Battles with Kurdish separatists in SE
Turkey Despite this- most industrialized
country in Middle East One of the only freely elected
governments in the M.E.
ISLAM AND IRAN Persians arrived in Iran 3,000 years ago Empire was conquered by Arabs in
600’s
Part of the Islamic Empire until about 1200 AD.
Most Persians converted to Islam, but kept Persian heritage
Speak Farsi, not Arabic
MODERNIZATION 1925- Army officer Reza Khan seizes
power and declares himself Shah At this time, most were nomadic herders or
farmers Shah opens schools, builds roads/railroads,
encouraged industry and gave more rights to women
His son continued modernization
THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION 1979- Ayatollah (religious leader)
Khomeini seizes power Rejects anything seen as “western” Westerners deported, women back to
traditional garb Strict adherence to Sharia- Islamic law
FUNDAMENTALISM LEADS TO WAR Shah tells Shi’ite minorities in all
Islamic countries to rise up against Sunni oppressors.
Leads to long, bloody, pointless war with Iraq 1980-88.
IRAN TODAY Led by President Ahmadinejad-
conservative who many have accused of election fraud
Labeled by the UN as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”
UN Security Council calling for Iran to stop Uranium enrichment program
High rates of human trafficking, drug shipping
AFGHANISTAN Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 2/3 of land is rugged and mountainous They speak a dialect of Farsi
AFGHAN ECONOMY One of the poorest nations in the world-
near the bottom in every indicator War and instability keep economy down Biggest export is opium, 93% of the
world’s supply
AFGHANISTAN Social and communal roles are based
on kinship groups and Islamic tradition Soviet domination – Islam was the way
to express opposition 80% of the nation is Sunni
AFGHAN HISTORY Many empires have controlled this
area: Persians, Alexander the Great, Turks, Arabs, Persians again, the Mongol Hordes, Turks again, British, Russians, and finally-themselves.
THE TALIBAN Rose to power as a reaction to warlord-
ism and lawlessness following Soviet occupation. Full power by 1998
Strict interpretation of Sharia- atrocities against non-believers, minorities and women.
1990s- provided sanctuary to Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida
TALIBAN Bin Laden launched many terrorist
attacks during the 90’s, culminating in 9/11
After refusing to turn him over, a Western Coalition invaded Afghanistan in Oct/2001
The Taliban fell apart, and Kabul fell one month later – troubles were just starting
AFGHAN PEOPLE 85% of people work in agriculture –
many in poppy fields Many are beginning to work towards
legal crops Unemployment still around 40% Life expectancy around 44 years, high
infant mortality – although numbers are improving
U.S. support of health care and education