Critical Lens: Muslim fundamentalists rejected Focus 4/7 As imperialism weakened after World War II, many countries around the world wanted self-determination. Many leaders of these countries wanted to modernize and embraced western culture. In the Middle East many of these modernizers met resistance from Muslim fundamentalists. Point for Discussion: Name a modernizer from a Middle Eastern country and explain reforms made by this ruler. Term to know: secular Critical Lens: Muslim fundamentalists rejected

Middle East

Middle East 1970s – Middle East sees an increasing number of Muslims opposed to westernization and call for the application of strict Muslim principles – This is called Islamic Fundamentalism

Middle East Middle East becomes important due to oil reserves and strategic location

Middle East Libya – Muamar al-Qaddafi establishes government based on Islamic principles Supports terrorism Overthrown and executed in 2012

Middle East Afghanistan From 1979 – 1989, Afghanistan fought off an invasion by the Soviet Union who was trying to support a communist government

Iranian Revolution Impacts of Iranian Revolution New Iranian government is very hostile to West, especially U.S. Government requires strict adherence to Muslim religion Most rights taken away from women Iranian militants seized U.S. embassy and take American hostages Iran encourages other Muslim countries to overthrow secular governments

Middle East After the Soviet’s left, an Islamic fundamentalist group known as the Taliban seizes the power and sets up a strict Islamic government

Iranian Revolution Iranian Revolution – Shah Pahlavi is overthrown and Ayatollah Khomeini takes control forming an Islamic Republic

Iranian Revolution 2005 – Despite complaints by the United States, Israel, and other Western powers Iran begins an aggressive nuclear program under leadership of President Mahmoud Ahmadinjad

Middle East Saddam Hussein and Iraq 1980 - Iran-Iraq War 1990 – Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait and seizes oil fields 1991 – Persian Gulf War between U.S. and Iraq

Middle East 2001 – U.S. accuses Iraq and Saddam Hussein of supporting terrorist groups like al – Qaeda Hussein also accused of torture and using poison gas against Kurds, an ethnic minority group in Iraq 2003 – United States and coalition forces invade Iraq December 2003 – Saddam Hussein is hanged

Middle East Impacts of the Fall of Saddam Hussein Conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq Kurds Demand a Homeland Instability in Iraq