Transcript Middle East Review for Test

Middle East Review for Test
Essay Topic: Conflicts in the Middle
East (Persian Gulf War, Arab-Israeli
Conflict etc.)
Complete CASTELEARNING
1. Geography of Middle East
Arid climate
 Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia, Cradle of
Civilization).
 Sahara Desert, Nile River

2. Area of importance
Crossroads of the Continents- trade
 Birthplace of religion- Judaism, Islam and
Christianity.
 Oil reserves

3. Conflict in the Middle East
Religious wars over holy land.
 Nationalism
 Oil
 Imperialism

4. PLO
Palestinian Liberation Organization
 Yassir Arafat
 Wants to regain Palestine from the Jews.
 Terrorist organization

5. Arab Israeli Conflict
Balfour declaration promised the land to the
Jews.
 Zionism- establishment of a homeland for
Jews. Gained support after Holocaust.
 Both claim their religion began there.
 Both claim they have an historical tie to the
land.
 Conflict is unresolved. Continued Terrorist
activities. Continued peace negotiations.

6. Camp David Accords
First peace treaty in the Middle East.
 Israel- Begin, Egypt- Sadat, U.S.- Carter.
 Egypt officially recognizes Israel.
 Win Nobel Prize.
 Sadat assassinated

7. Iranian Revolution
Shah tried to modernize and westernize.a
 Emancipated women.
 Overthrown- comes to U.S.
 Khomeini establishes an Islamic
Fundamentalist government.
 Take 50 hostages for 444 days.

8. Iran-Iraq War
Border dispute (Shatt al Arab waterway)
 Lasted 8 years.
 Iraq wins, but suffers huge losses.
 Iraq invades Kuwait (wealthy nation).

9. Libya
Country tied to terrorism.
 1986 President Reagan bombed terrorist
training camps in Libya in retaliation for the
bombing of a nightclub in Berlin where
U.S. service men were killed.

10. Nationalism
Cause of conflict in the Middle East.
 Arab-Israeli conflict- Arab nationalism and
Jewish nationalism

11. Zionism
1898 founded by Theodor Herzel.
 Did not gain support until after the
Holocaust.
 Created world wide support- led to the
creation of Israel.

12. Gulf War
Hussein invaded Kuwait (because of IranIraq War).
 U.N. military action.
 Hussein removed from Kuwait.
 Allowed to remain in power.
 Economic sanctions.
