1. Chapter 18
Section Two
The Arabian Peninsula

2. The Countries of the Arabian Peninsula

3. Saudi Arabia Largest country on the Arabian Peninsula
Saudi Flag
Largest country on the Arabian Peninsula
Nearly all Saudi’s are Arabs and speak Arabic
About 85% are Sunni Muslims, the rest are Shia, and a small amount are others

4. Islam Islam is a religion founded in Saudi Arabia by Muhammad
Islam is based on messages Muslims believe God gave to Muhammad
These messages are written in the Qur’an – the holy book of Islam

5. Islamic Traditions Islam requires modesty
Saudi’s keep arms and legs covered
Saudi laws and customs limit women’s activities

6. Muslims Shia: Type of Islam Sunni: Type of Islam
Believe the true interpretation of Islamic teaching can only come from certain religious and political leaders called imams
Sunni: Type of Islam
Believe the ability of the majority of the community to interpret Islamic teachings

7. Muslim Contributions to Math
Introduced the numeric system to Europe
Developed Algebra
Made advances in geometry
Used math to study astronomy and physics
Calculated longitude and latitude
Defined ratios

8. Government Monarchy Saud family rules since 1932
Most government officials are relatives of the king
No elected legislature
Local officials elected
Only men allowed to vote

9. Economy Economy based on oil (world’s leading exporter of oil)
Oil accounts for 91% of Saudi Arabia’s exports
Influential member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC
OPEC is and international organization whose members work to influence the price of oil on world markets by controlling the supply

10. Oil

11. Economic Challenges Oil has brought wealth Sizable middle class
Free health care and education
Must import much of its food because freshwater for farming is scarce
Desalination plants remove salt from sea water, but this requires an extremely expensive procedure

12. Economic Challenges High unemployment rate High population growth rate
Many young Saudi’s study religion instead of technology

13. Economic Challenges From National Geographic
In the desert near the border with Iraq, a Bedouin father pauses to play with his children. Throughout Saudi Arabia, Bedouin ways and Islamic traditions are passed down from parent to child. Although clan and creed helped create the nation of Saudi Arabia, they may not be sufficient to sustain it. Far more Saudi students now graduate with degrees in theology than in engineering, which leaves the government with a massive challenge: how to train a labor force for the jobs of tomorrow in a culture that's focused intensely on its past.

14. Kuwait Oil based economy
Invaded by Iraq in 1990, starting the Persian Gulf War
Monarchy with a legislature elected in 1992

15. Bahrain Group of islands in the Persian Gulf
Monarchy with a legislature
Oil
As oil began to run out, banking, and tourism became more important

16. Qatar Small peninsula off the Persian Gulf
Powerful monarch with elected officials
Oil and natural gas

17. The United Arab Emirates
Seven tiny kingdoms
Depends on foreign workers; outnumber citizens
Oil and natural gas

18. Oil Wealth

19. Oman Most of the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula
Government attempting to develop new industries
oil

20. Yemen Southwestern part of Arabian Peninsula
Elected government with political corruption
Oil
Poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula

22. Iraq
World’s first civilization was in Mesopotamia, a region that is part of Iraq today
500s BC. – Persian’s conquered Mesopotamia
331 BC. – it was part of the empire of Alexander the Great
AD 600s – conquered by Arabs
1500s – became part of the Ottoman Empire

23. History During World War 1, Great Britain took over the region
Iraqi army officers overthrew the government in 1950s
After 1968, Bath party took power
1979: Saddam Hussein became Iraq’s president
He controlled the media, restricted personal freedoms, and killed political enemies

24. Invasions 1980: Iraq invaded Iran. The war lasted until 1988
1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait
1991: An alliance of countries led by the U.S. forced Iraqis out of Kuwait: Persian Gulf War
Saddam would not accept all of the United Nations (UN) peace terms
UN placed and embargo, or limit on trade, on Iraq

25. Effects
Soon after, Saddam crushed two rebellions from Shia Muslims and Kurds
Iraq refused to cooperate with UN inspectors over weapons production
Sept. 11 attacks led to more tension with the United States
2003: U.S. attacked Iraq. The Iraqi army was defeated and Saddam was captured and later executed

26. Ethnic Groups Population: 26 million 75% Arabs, speak Arabic
15 – 20 % Kurds
Mostly farmers and live in northern Iraq
Speak Arabic and Kurdish

27. Religion Nearly all Iraqis are Muslim
About 60% are Shia and live in the south
About 35% are Sunni and live in the north

28. Electricity, water, schools, homes, and businesses need to be restored
Rebuilding
Government
Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, was severely damaged during the war with the U.S.
Electricity, water, schools, homes, and businesses need to be restored
2005: first democratic elections
Members elected to a national assembly
New constitution written

29. Economy Trying to recover oil production
Producing, barley, cotton, rice
Facing huge challenges in creating a free and prosperous society
ISIS
The rise of ISIS, explained in 6 minutes

30. Iran
Starting in the 500s BC the Persian Empire ruled the region around present day Iran
For centuries Persia was the center for art and learning
Known for paintings
Carpets,
Metalwork
architecture

31. History
The Persian Empire was later conquered by several Muslim empires
The Persians converted to Islam, but kept their Persian culture
In 1921: An Iranian military officer took power and claimed the old Persian title of shah, or king
1941: The shah’s son took control and tried to modernize Iran

32. Revolution
1978: Iranian’s began a revolution, or drastic change in a country’s government and way of life
1979: the shah is overthrown and Iran becomes an Islamic republic, following strict Islamic law
Relations with the U.S. broke down
50 Americans were taken hostage for over a year

33. Iran Today More than half of all Iranians are Persian and speak Farsi
Population of 68 million
Ethnic groups include Persians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Arabs, and Turks
Most belong to the Shia branch of Islam
Culture includes close knit families and respect for elders
Tehran a bustling city of opportunity
Tehran, Iran’s capital

34. Iran Today Huge oil reserves Beautiful woven carpets
Economy
Government
Huge oil reserves
Beautiful woven carpets
Strong agricultural sector
Theocracy: a government ruled by religious leaders
Religious leaders, or ayatollahs, control Iran’s government
The head of the ayatollahs has unlimited power
Iran has an elected president and a parliament

35. Current Policies Called for the destruction of Israel
Supported terrorist groups in other countries such as Yemen
Since 1997, women are gaining more rights
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