Transcript Population Patterns

Ch. 18 Sec. 1
(this is just a basic outline)
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The Middle East is the crossroads b/w Asia,
Africa, and Europe  remarkable ethnic
diversity
◦ Differences among groups based on their language,
customs, and beliefs
 275
million
◦ dominant group
 Majority
are Muslims
 Arabic = language
 Presently live in 16 countries,
including those in North
Africa
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Before Islam spread, they were mainly on
Arabian Peninsula
◦ Now all over, including “Maghreb” (“The
West”—Libya, Tunisia, Algeria & Morocco
Now, many Arabs are descendents of Egyptians,
Phoenicians, Berbers, and others
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6.4 million Israelis living in
Israel
◦ 82% Jewish
◦ Everyone else practices
either Islam or
Christianity
Trace their heritage &
background to the
Israelites, who settled a
land called Canaan (shared
by Israel & Lebanon today)
◦ MAJOR BELIEF AMONG
JEWS THAT THIS LAND
WAS GIVEN TO THEM BY
GOD!
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Wars, persecution, & trade made Jews settle
elsewhere religion kept link to homeland
alive
1890s: Zionism (movement that would
establish a Jewish state in Israel)
1948: Israel founded as Jewish state
**Zionism still exists—it now emphasizes the
development of the Jewish state, Israel**
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Arab Muslims (aka—Palestinians) were mad
about a Jewish state in territory that was
theirs
VERY ANGRY because the Jews had been gone
for many years
Many Palestinians were forced to leave 
conflict between Jews & Muslims
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Agreements are now giving Palestinians more
self-rule
Problems still exist over city of Jerusalem,
presence of troops in territories, return of
Palestinian refugees, & water and resource
rights
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From Anatolia Peninsula
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Blend of many peoples who have lived there
◦ (C. Asian, European)
◦ Remnants of Turkish empires
◦ Main one being the Ottoman Turks (ruled
Mediterranean for 600 years through the Ottoman
Empire)
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Most are Muslims; speak Turkish
 66
million live in Iran
(formerly Persia)
 Descendants of Aryans (from
southern Russia)
 Speak Farsi
 90%
are Shi’a Muslims
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Ethnic groups reflect centuries of migrations &
invasions
Speak many languages
Most practice Islam
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More than 50
ethnic groups in
Caucasus area
Both Armenia & Georgia used to be a part of the Soviet
Union (USSR) until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991
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Armenians:
◦ Armenia became independent with fall of Soviet
Union (’91)
◦ Culture is over 15 centuries old
◦ Most are Christian
◦ 1915: 1 million were massacred, deported, or died
of illness from Ottoman Turks
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Georgians:
თმა, (tma), "hair"
მთა, (mta), "mountain"
ცხენი, (tskheni), "horse"
◦ Independence w/ fall of Soviet
Union
◦ Most are Christian
 Have own Orthodox Church
◦ Own language w/ unique
alphabet
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Mostly in Central Asia (especially the “stans”)
◦ Remnants of Turkish empires
◦ Live outside of Turkey (who are Turks)
Uzbeks (from Uzbekistan)make up largest group of
Turkic peoples
Kazakhs (Kazakhstan) are a minority in own country
(Russians, Ukrainians, & Germans are majority)
◦ But now with migration & better living conditions.
◦ Growth because of a high birthrate and movement of
non-Kazakhs out of Kazakhstan
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Mostly Muslim
Non-Turkic group living in Central Asia
Live in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and
Afghanistan
Language is similar to Farsi
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Most are Muslims
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Language also similar to Farsi
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Live in border areas, with no established country
◦ Border areas of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria & Caucasian
republics (Armenia, mainly)
 Also call this region called Kurdistan
◦ Attempts of self-rule put down by Turkish and Arab
rulers
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Fearing an uprising, Hussein massacred Kurds in 80s
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Water fights
◦ Causes border disputes
 Shatt al Arab (Iran & Iraq)
 Golan Heights: Syrian area conquered by Israel in 1967
(20,000 Israelis live here)
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City fights
◦ Rapid Urbanization no jobs, housing, etc.
 Slums are forming on outskirts
 Iran’s solution: decentralize the government take
businesses and jobs out of Tehran, and spread them
out to other cities.
18.3
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Branch of Islam (most practiced)
Belief that leadership of religion should come
from the Islamic community
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Branch of Islam
Practiced primarily in Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq
and parts of Syria & Lebanon
Believe that descendants of the prophet
Muhammad should be the leaders of the
Muslim community
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Main language of people today
Spread throughout the region as Islam spread
Qur’an—the holy text—written in this
language so non-Arabs had to learn the
language to read it!
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Large, mud-brick temples built by Sumerians
Shaped like pyramids
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Built pyramids
Served as royal tombs
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Depicting living things is discouraged
Instead, use geometric patterns and floral
designs for art
Calligraphy is used for art/decoration as well
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Oral tradition is strong in the Middle East
region
Poem written by Omar Khayyam
One of the only poems that has been
translated into most worldly languages
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Population has grown rapidly in the last
century
◦ Improved health care
◦ High birth rates
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In most countries, 1/3 of population is under
age 15
Many people have also moved to urban areas
as well
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Nomadic people living in the desert in this
region
Only comprises of a small percentage of the
region now—most people stay in one place
and live in either cities or rural areas
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A traditional marketplace that is usually
found both in rural areas, as well as major
cities
Usually VERY busy
Can range in size from a single street of stalls
to an entire district (usually in larger cities)
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Varies with countries with different standards
of living
Tends to happen with oil-rich
countries...why?
◦ Very prosperous  abundance of jobs!
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Happening in places like the UAE, who have
to depend on foreign workers from India, Sri
Lanka, and the Phillippines
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Most people attend school. Primary education is
free!
Most students complete through secondary
school (like high school) and some even go to
universities.
18/28 countries have literacy rates above 75%
Women in the region have advanced in this
area; half of new university admissions are
women
In Iran: post-revolution, more people can read
& write
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Improvement in health care  higher life
expectancies than before
◦ Government-owned hospitals
◦ Wealthier countries: hospital stay = free
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Rural areas: doctor shortages
◦ Treatment mainly found in major urban centers
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LOW LIFE EXPECTANCIES STILL DOMINATE
THE REGION
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A Muslim “crier” who calls people to prayer
from the mineret, a tower of a mosque
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Religious observance of Muslims
Aka—“Feast of Sacrifice”
Mark this by making the pilgrimage (journey)
to Mecca
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A holy month of fasting in the Muslim
community
From dawn to dusk
Ordained by the Qur’an
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Jewish observance
Most solemn holy day in Jewish religion
Seen as a time of fasting, prayer, and
forgiveness
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Interpretations of Muslim law dictate that
women cannot fully participate in public
activities, like sports
In more recent years: women are “testing the
waters” anyway
◦ Can play spectator sports in restricted areas where
viewers are only women
◦ Some countries: women must cover themselves
completely in public, even while doing aerobics in
the park
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More involved in sports now than ever
Women’s Games (Tehran): 1993