World
Regional Geography
Spring 2005
Chapter 8: Northern Africa and Southwestern Asia
The connecting
tissue of three continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. The overwhelming focus of the region
includes the well known, but little understood, characteristics of oil, aridity and Islam. From antiquity,
the region has been a source of major world religions and battleground of
external influences. Unified
religiously, economically, culturally and politically.
In the News (page 312)
Check out Arab News: http://www.arabnews.com/
Understanding the political, cultural and economic issues
erupting in Iraq are critical to understanding this
region. I want us to also focus upon the
intentions and perceptions of the US in this region. Any actions that we take in this region will
have significant impact upon our political and economic future.
Identify areas\issues which bring this part of the world into
the news.
In the Middle: Exchanges,
Unities, and Diversities
·
Region
is center of earliest urban civilizations and several world religions
·
Cross
of colonial interventions (European and Ottoman)
·
Region
possesses 2/3 of known oil reserves
·
Center
of Islamic religion
Cultural and Political
History Within a Wider World
Religious and language cultural factors
are as significant as politics and economics in this region.
First Civilizations
Cultural hearths- Tigres-Euphrates
(Iraq-Babylon) and Nile (Egypt)
Religions
Judaism, Christianity and
Islam- share
monotheism, religious figures and Sacred
texts. (Abraham, Moses and Jesus are
prophets of Islam.)
Diaspora- Jewish expulsion from Israel by Romans in 70 AD.
Christianity- 300 AD becomes the official religion
of Roman Empire.
Split between West (Roman Catholic in Rome) and East (Orthodox in Constantinople.)
Coptic- Early church in Egypt and Ethiopia
Islam (submission to the
will of Allah)- 600 AD based upon teachings of
Muhammad.
Five Pillars of the
Islamic Faith
1. Confession of faith - there is no God but God and Mohammed is
his messenger.
2. Alms giving.
3. Prayer five times per day, prayers on Friday being most
pleasing to God.
4. Ramadan - no eating, drinking or sex from sun-up to sun-down
for one lunar month (to teach God's reconciled what it means to be poor).
5. Pilgrimage to Makkah (Haji).
Qu'ran can only be written in Arabic (prayers
too)
Major cleavages of Islam
1. Sunni the
orthodox; constitute at least 80% of all Moslems in the world today.
2. Shi'a
- Partisans of Ali. Ninety percent of all Shi'a
Moslems today are found in Iran. Shiite sects, of which there are many include mystical Sufis and Christian-like Alawis of Syria.
4. The division of Islam was a result of a quarrel for
leadership (Khalifate) after the death of Mohammand in the seventh century.
Islamic Fundamentalism or Revivalism constitutes a growing force
in region change and politics. The resulting conflict is often a struggle
between the secular left (PLO) and Islamic right (HAMAS).
Islam and Arabic
Islam, carried to the far corners of North Africa and Southwest Asia by the great Arab conquest of the
seventh and eighth centuries, is the religion of 93% of the region's
population. Arabic is the first language of around 57% of the region's
population. Judaism is the chosen religion of around 2% with Christianity
around 3% of the total population. The significance of Islam varies
considerably across the region.
Some countries such as Iran, refer to themselves as Islamic
republics, incorporating Islamic beliefs into the very structure of their government.
Others, such as Saudi Arabia go as far as organizing their system
of civil and criminal codes around Koranic precepts,
while others such as Syria and Iraq accept the significance of Islam but
are totally committed to a secular, single-party state. Turkey, the region's largest nation, attempts
to constitutionally separate and relegate religion to a status of
non-governmental involvement. Turkey (Constantinople, now Instanbul)
was center of Christian Byzantine Empire.
Languages
Arabic- main language (50%)-
180 million people- language of Koran and Muslim prayers.
Berber- Morocco
Hebrew- Israel
Persian- modern Persian is called Farsi (Iran- 58%)
Kurdish- Southeastern Turkey, Northern raq, Western Iran and parts of Syria.
Turkish- Turkey (many Turkish factions- Azeris in Azerbaijan and Iran)
Persian Dynasties- 1700-1800’s,-
tradition of Shiite cleric rule (continues today)
Ottoman Turks- 1500’s, Sulayman conquered
Mediterranean coast/Balkans
European Colonies and Protectorates- France (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria), Italy (Libya) and Britain (Egypt, Sudan, Arabian Peninsula)
Strategic Role of Oil- 65% of known reserves in world (not
including Libya, Iran, Egypt or Algeria.)
Iran and Turkey may develop pipelines to ports across
their soil.
No Oil- Morocco, Turkey, Israel and Jordan
OPEC- oil producer’s cartel- regulates oil
prices.
Natural Environments
Dry Climates and
Desert Vegetation
1. Part of a great dry region stretching from Northwestern India to the Moroccan coast. Where there is
no water or arable land, there are no people. Areas of highest rain and
snowfall are almost invariably positioned on the windward sides of mountain
systems. All countries of the region are net food importers. Water, not oil, is
the future resource of conflict. Nile basin hydro-politics, for example, could be a flashpoint
igniting conflict in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, etc . Mountains of Turkey and Iran help produce precipitation that feeds
river systems. Region has lots of sand
and poor soils.
Figure 8.7 (page 323)
2. Oil resources - most countries of the region have little or
no oil at all. Over 80% of all oil in the region is found in or around the Persian Gulf (largest concentration in the world.)
Countries that have large amounts of oil (Saudi Arabia) have little water; conversely
countries which have large amounts of water (Turkey - Tigris, Euphrates) have little oil.
Clashing Plates- Atlas mountains- North Africa
Major River Valleys- Tigres-Euphrates
(Turkey-Syria and Iraq.)
Nile- Blue (Ethiopia- 80% of water flow) and White (Lake Victoria) – countries include Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
Natural Resources- Water and oil- both underground. River flow is linked to annual floods, now
controlled by damns.
Environmental Problems- very limited agricultural space and
water. Oil industry is a major polluter.
Global
Connections- Major
city- Istanbul, Turkey.
North Africa
Algeria, Libya (80% desert between the 2), Morocco and Tunisia (Atlas Mountains in the north- known as the Mahgreb)
Countries-
Former
French Colonies- Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.
Immigration to
Europe:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/10/20/MN128269.DTL
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/05/tunisia.summit.reut/
A. The Maghreb Union is moving forward albeit, slowly. Half
live in coastal cities.
B. Tunisia,
positioned between conflict-ridden Algeria and unstable Libya continues close ties with the United States. Headquarters of the
Arab League.
C. Morocco has the world's longest
unbroken treaty with the United States. Morocco's occupation of phosphate-rich Western
Sahara
has been reorganized by the World Court. Moroco is
ruled by a king- Muhammed VI.
D. Algeria, with one of the world's largest
natural gas reserves continues to be torn by religious conflict. 1992-
Fundamentalist Islamic group wins elections- military takes over government to
prevent this- result is civil war. Algeria’s economy is devastated.
E. Libyan crude oil is one of the world's
highest quality low sulphur oil exports.
F. Francophone
Morocco
and Tunisia have applied for membership in the
European Union.
G. Development
in North African non-oil economies continue to focus on agriculture and
population control. Import half of food
needs.
I. Development
looks northward as these countries form closer economic ties with Europe (labor and commodities) and try to
join the EU.
J. Tunisia- woman have more rights and
freedoms than most Arab nations.
K. Libya- A military, socialist and
Islamic republic led by Muammar al Qadhafi.
L. 1500’s- Spanish Christians expel Muslims, driving 1 million
back to North
Africa.
People
Arab/Berber- 95% of ethnic makeup
Urban- mostly urban populations (75% in Libya)
Medina- historic sectors of cities, named
after the sacred city of Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Known for distinctive architecture, structure and
social fabric.
Employment/Migration- Algeria/Morocco- 20% unemployment
with a shortage of skilled labor. North Africans migrate
to France as unskilled laborers. Libya has a labor shortage.
Economic Development
Colonial Influence- Colonial farms produced citrus fruit and
olives. Countries still import 50% of
food (Libya = 75%.)
Water use is an issue- Moroccan farmers use 85% of available water with increasing urban and
industrial demand.
Oil
and Gas- North African
chief mining product. Algeria- 5th largest natural gas
reserves, 2nd largest exporter.
Libya is rich from oil revenues.
European Trade- North Africa is tied to Europe with Algeria/Libya supplying 1/4 of their natural
gas/oil.
North Africa
News: http://www.northafricanews.com/
Nile River Valley
(Sudan
and Egypt)
Egypt- largest Arab country in population and
controls Suez
Canal (major
choke point)
Sudan- largest Arab country
in area and the poorest. One million refugees
from Ethiopian famine and war are big burden on Sudan.
Egyptian Empire- Lower Nile valley since 3,200 BC.
Alexander the Great conquered in 332 BC with Roman empire controlling until 5th
century AD. Muslim invasion after 600 AD
and became part of Ottoman
empire in 1500's. France and United Kingdom controlled in 1800's, with British
control until 1952.
Sudan- fears claims by Egyptians for control
of Sudanese territory.
Egyptian economy still based on farming- cotton
for British markets.
Sudan continues to be racked by civil war
and the increasing oppression and conservatism of Islamic political parties (Arab, North.) Economic
growth in the non-Moslem (Christian,
black Africans) south has ceased in areas of conflict and slowed to a
snail's pace in the remainder of the region. Sudan was once big cotton exporter- Civil
war has had major negative affect.
Without the Nile, Egypt would not have evolved into a modern
state or been able to continue as a viable nation. Nile basin hydro-politics promise to be a major regional issue well
into the twenty-first century. The headwaters of the two main Nile segments include:
1. White
Nile - Lake Victoria in Equatorial Africa
2. Blue
Nile - Ethiopian Highlands and Lake Tana (80% of water)
The negative
environmental impacts of Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser continue to affect the health of the
Egyptian people and Nile delta fisheries.
Population
growth in the Nile basin is high,
absorbing what little surplus is generated by development increases. Neither produces enough to provide for
needs of population- export income is less than imported needs.
People
Populations of
Egypt and Sudan are concentrated along the Nile River.
Throughout Egypt, 97% of the population resides on a
narrow ribbon of land on either side of the Nile system. Cairo is 11 million and reaches the pyramids
(the parking lot at the foot of the pyramids is the edge of the city.)
Coptic Christian Church- began in Egypt and spread south to Ethiopia.
Economic Development
Egypt- major cotton
exporter with industrial diversity but aging facilities.
Due to Israeli-Egyptian peace
agreement, Egypt
receives a massive amount of aid money from US- 2nd to Israel
for US
aid. Gulf countries
pay Egypt for armaments and military
support. Egyptian workers send home
large amount of foreign currency into the local economy. Tourism is a major source of income for Egypt (Islamic fundamentalist threaten this
revenue.)
Coptic Church (please
don’t ignore these):
http://i-cias.com/e.o/coptic_cath.htm
http://pharos.bu.edu/
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/coptchurch.htm
Egypt- Virgin Mary
Appears in a Muslim town:
http://www.zeitun-eg.net/assiut.htm
Egypt
Sites:
http://www.guardians.net/egypt/egypt1.htm
Fundamentalism (different
points of view):
http://www.ijfm.org/PDFs_IJFM/11_2_PDFs/06_Jabbour.pdf
Sudan:
Civil War and Refugees:
http://www.refugees.org/newsroomsub.aspx?id=1138&fragment=0&SearchType=OR&terms=sudan
The Lost Boys of Sudan:
Coming to America:
http://www.redcross.org/news/in/africa/0108lostboyspage.html
Your name in Hieroglyphs
and cool Egyptian stuff:
http://www.virtual-egypt.com/newhtml/link2.htm
http://personalwebs.myriad.net/steveb/egypt.html
http://www.egyptsites.co.uk/
Arab Southwest
Asia
Region is heart of Arab and Islamic worlds-
birthplace of Muhammad (Mecca) and city of Medina (where Muhammad developed much of his
religious concepts.) The Arabian Peninsula is home to several kingdoms and states
whose political and economic significance continue to impact global affairs.
Flash points include Gaza, Golan, Hormuz Straits, Suez Canal, Shatt
al-Arab and quasi-partitioned Iraq.
Oil Wealth- 2/3 of world's known oil
reserves. Spend oil money on food and
1/3 of budgets on defense.
Countries- Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Oil and Water- The amount of oil and water in the
area varies. (KNOW THIS)
Governments- mostly ruling families or dictators.
Syria - key to settlement of Israeli concern
for Golan
Heights and
northern security. Syria's relationship with Turkey continues to be one of conflict due to
disagreement over allocation of Euphrates river water.
Lebanon is stabilizing and rebuilding its
cities and political system. Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and support of Maronite-based
political movements continue to be major cleavages in regional peace
efforts. New democracy
after a long Muslim/Christian civil war.
Was financial capital - "the Switzerland of Middle East"
Yemen- The Latest Yemen civil war is
over, the victorious north dominates the south again. Saudi Arabian - Yemen boundary issues have been resolved.
Oman- long a foreign policy anchor of the United States in the Persian Gulf interests, is quickly moving to
capitalize on oil resources and its leadership role in Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) activities. Oman occupies the tip of the Musandem peninsula, on the Arab side of the strategic Hormuz Straits.
The United Arab Emirates- a collection of wealthy Gulf shaykhdoms,
are dominated by oil rich Abu Dhabi. Dubai is considered by many to be the Arab
world's center of finance.
Qatar- remains a progressive yet traditional
Gulf shaykhdom. Qatar's population is small but its oil
reserves are vast. Qatar's dispute with Bahrain and off-shore oil development has yet
to be resolved.
Bahrain- headquarters of U.S. Gulf military assets, is practically out of oil and increasingly depending
on ship repair, tourism, and value added oil product manufacturing for other
GCC countries, including nearby Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia- has the world's largest oil reserve
and oil field (Ghawar). The United States. is Saudi Arabia's largest foreign investor and supplier
of military hardware. US troops in Saudi Arabia- “infidels” on the
ground near Islam’s most Holy city.
Kuwait- with the world's richest oil field
(Burgan) is quickly rebuilding after being occupied and looted by Iraq (torched 742 oil wells.) Depleted assets from $100 billion to $35 billion. Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabian ruling families are
linked by centuries of mutual cooperation and tribal federations.
12. Iraq a creation out of British interests in
Mesopotamia continues to be bottled up and partitioned
by allied coalition oil and trade embargoes. Prevented from interfering in
Kurd-controlled north and Shiite south, Iraq has been in essence divided into three
quasi-states. Iraq's problems are further compounded by
restricted Gulf access via the narrow Shatt al-Arab
(confluence of Tigris - Euphrates rivers). Iraq is predominately Arab,
that of nearby Iran inextricably linked to non-Arab Persia.
Could be a major regional power.
Iraq- Big issues- US occupation, bringing democracy to Iraq (what will it look like?) Shi’a power, Kurdish homeland issues, Saddam’s legacy.
http://www.iraq.net/
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/text3-19-2003-37588.asp
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0319-06.htm
People-(some of highest population growth rates in world-
immigration and birth)
Ethnicity- mainly Arabs with some
important groups. Kurds- Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran (many call for their own country- they are a
nation of people.) High rates of
immigrant labor (30%) from other Islamic countries.
Highly urbanized- along coasts and Tigris-Euphrates river. Exception is
area around Mecca and Medina (due to connection with religious
centers.)
Economic Development
Oil revenue
falls- means less money for services, education and entitlements. Fewer immigrant laborers are needed- less
money to other Muslim countries.
Richer countries- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and UAE (all oil
countries.)
Poorer- Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen
Fall of the House of Saud:
http://home.entouch.net/dmd/saud.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/794902/posts
http://foi.missouri.edu/evolvingissues/fallhouseofsaud.html
Saudi Arabia
Web Sites (their point of view):
http://www.us-saudi-business.org/
http://www.saudiembassy.net/
http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/
http://www.saudinf.com/
Israel
and the Palestinian
Territories
Maps on
pages 350-351 are important
Israel - continues to be the central pivot of
the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. Israel's settlement of Arab lands and
occupation of Golan and the Litani river line in Lebanon are significant barriers to a lasting Middle East peace. Israel continues to use over 75% of all Jordan River water.
Barriers to Peace-
§
Return of Territories from 1967 war for peace
§
Resolution of national issues in contxt of Jewish culture
(secular vs religious)
§
Move from rurual to high-tech economic focus
§
Growing ethnic differences (among Jews and between
Jews/Arabs) Arabs account for 90% of West Bank and Gaza strip populations.
§
Continued Jewish settlement of West Bank/Gaza is great source
of conflict.
§
Jeruslemem- Israel declared this their
capital- US and other countries only recognize Tel Aviv. Jews, Arabs and Christians claim this as a
Holy city.
Israel, Gaza, and West Bank -- Conflict between Israel and its neighbors has
been recurring since 1948. Israel is a relatively
successful homeland for five million Jews.
People -- Migration of Jews
from Russia and elsewhere fuels
population growth in Israel. Israel is a special place
for most of its people, but has increasing internal tensions. Gaza and West Bank contain many
Palestinians. Palestinians want a
homeland- US and many others recognize and support this.
Economic Development -- Israel's economy is similar
to a European economy being diversified in manufacturing (44% of exports) and
services. Economy is like Southern Europe. Isreael has a
developed high-tech and defense industry.
1/2 of Israel's trade is with EU-
wants to join EU as a trading partner.
Palestinian Poverty- military action has destroyed the
economy. No infrastructure, schools,
ambulances, etc. 40% of population live in refugee camps with 50% unemployment.
Web Sites:
http://www.palestine-net.com/
http://www.americantaskforce.org/
http://www.mideastweb.org/palmaps.htm
http://www.ipcri.org/index1.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/israel-palestine.html
http://www.newint.org/issue348/contents.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0701-03.htm
Turkey
and Iran
Crucial straegic
geographic locations
§
Chokepoints
§
Oil fields (and pipelines)
§
Watershed control
§
Crossroads of political change
Two countries contain 1/3 of the region's population (66 million)
Both are mountainous countries with occurance of damaging earthquakes.
Turkey and Iran continue to be
political and economic rivals.
The Byzantine Empire in Turkey and the Persian Empire in Iran were historically
significant.
Iran- 1979- Ayatollah
Khomeini leads revolt and establishes an Islamic republic. Current student protests and nuclear program
issues.
Iran is home to 90% of the world's Shiite
population. Iran is probably the most ethnically
diverse country in North
Africa and Southwest Asia. Oil rich and wary, Iran maintains an aggressive and vigilant
stance on its borders with Iraq (a former enemy) Turkey, Azerbayzhan
in the Caucasus and Russia. Iran continues to support Shiite based
political movements in Lebanon, Yemen and the Arab Gulf.
Turkey (Non-Arab) - is the largest of the
region's political subdivisions. Geopolitical, ethnic and development issues concerning
Turkey include:
a. Kurdish separatist movement in eastern Turkey, covertly supported by Iran.
b. Turkish involvement with Turkish Azeris in newly independent Armenia.
c. Control of the Turkish Straits with
Russian pressure for unlimited use.
d. U.S. - Turkish military coordination and
cooperation.
e. Diversification of Turkish economy.
f.
Control
of the Euphrates and Tigris river watersheds
g. Member of NATO
h. Issues regarding its establishment as a
secular country with strong Islamic roots.
People
Both countries are populous and contain
considerable ethnic diversity.
Economic Development
Iran uses oil and Turkey uses water resources
to support their respective economies. Manufacturing and services are more
diversified in Turkey than in Iran.
Turkey Web Sites:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/turkey.html
http://jamaica.u.arizona.edu/ic/babur/culture.htm
http://www.turkishculture.org/
http://www.turkeyguide.com/
Iran
Web Sites:
http://www.iranvision.com/
http://www.oznet.net/iran/frames2.htm
http://www.abadan.net/links/cul.htm