1. Modern Day Middle East

2. What characteristics make this area a region? CULTURE: Religion- Islam Speak Arabic Similar clothing Share history GEOGRAPHY: Desert Hot- DRY Oil Mountains Nile, Tigris, Euphrates

3. What leads to conflict? Fighting over resources: oil land land that oil is on control over the resource ( i.e. who gets to use it) Fighting over Governemnt: Gov. is oppressive ( taking away rights) Fighting over religion: religion’s role in everyday life religion’s role in how people see/treat other groups Religious majorities in an area

4. RESOURCES Over half the world’s oil ( petroleum, natural gas etc.) is found in the Middle East mainly in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Kuwait Saudi Arabia is the main exporter of oil to the US

5. OPEC forms Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Includes Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela Governments of those countries control the oil industries in their country Got A LOT of power: can embargo, control prices

6. OIL 6 What can you use it for?use Good: makes countries richrich Bad: Economies depend on oil BRAINSTORM: why is it bad to depend on one type of resource for money?

7. Conflicts over oil The Iran Iraq Wars The Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War

8. Religion The major religion of the middle east is Islam, but there is a minority of Judaism and Christianity there All 3 religions started in this region and have holy cities here ( Sometimes the same city like Jerusalem)

9. Conflicts 9 religions disagree about: How strict people should follow the religion Role of religion in government sometimes conflicts that start in religion can lead to other types of conflict The following issues have ties to religious disagreements: Sunni vs Shi’ite Westernization Woman rights/roles Palestinian/ Israeli conflict Terrorism

10. A Brief History of the Arab Israeli Conflict 10  Watch the video first. Check for BIAS.video  Watch this video second, check for BIAS video  Britain owned Palestine ( now Israel) before WWII  During and after the Holocaust, many European Jews fled persecution. They wanted to return to their historic homeland.  The British made two promises:  to give Arabs a homeland  but then promised the Jews the same homeland  Left to the UN to decide who got what  The decision: 54% goes to Israel, 46% to Palestine

11. 11

12. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 12  Palestinians are not happy with the decision  Series of wars break out  Israeli wins and gains more land  Fighting continues to this day  BOTH sides have done so much to each other that it is hard to make peace.  Terrorist Attacks  Military Attacks  Violating human rights

13. Thoughts to ponder (there is no set answer) 13 Both have claim to the land One group of refugees creates another group of refugees Refugees do not have equal rights in other countries. Could giving these people citizenship help solve the problem or create more problems? How do you break a cycle of hatred? Would creating a Palestinian country solve the situation or make it worse?

14. The Final Question 14 How do you think these two groups of people should make peace? What would make them able to both live happy?

15. Westernization GOOD BAD 15 Gives a higher standard of living (“modern conveniences”) Easier, exciting way of life Better technology and business Takes away traditional culture Can go against strict religious beliefs ( i.e.. How women dress) Terrorism CAN SOMETIMES be a response ( fundamentalists think they need to fight against westernization)