1. Regional Studies #3 Middle East and North Africa

4. IRAN

5. Tehran Azadi (Freedom) monument – 2500 th year of Persian Empire (1971)

6. Iran is one of the _________________ continuous civilizations in the world. Much of its wealth today relies on the production and export of _________. Other major sources of income include textiles, construction materials, and the beautiful and expensive ____________________ which are exported to many parts of the world. Farmers grow wheat, rice, sugar beets, and cotton. Iran is also the world’s leading producer of ___________________________ nuts.

7. Iran has a population of about 77 million people. Over ____ per cent of the population is 30 years old or younger in age. Unlike most of the countries in this region, most Iranians are not Arabs but trace their roots to ancient ______________.

8. The official language of Iran is Persian or _______________ as it is known locally. This language borrows words from Arabic, Turkish, English and French. Words we have borrowed from the Persian language include the ______________________, ______________________, and ______________. FARSI ASSASSIN PAJAMAS LEMON

9. Religious Conflict in the Islamic World Sunni vs. Shia conflict in IRAQ

10. Most of the Muslim world is Sunni

11. SHAHS ALLY MULLAHS Shah Reza Pahlavi and his wife THEOCRATIC Relations with the US About 2,000 years ago, Iran was ruled by rulers known as ______________. In the 1970’s religious leaders inspired a great many people in Iran to protest again the then ruler of Iran, Shah Reza Pahlavi. The Shah was a strong ________ of the US. But as the protests against the Shah grew stronger, the US backed away from its support of the Shah. In 1979, religious leaders, known as _________________, overthrew the Shah’s government and set up a _________________ government.

12. Militant student in support of the new government stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and held the US staff hostage. An attempt by President Carter to send in a US rescue team failed. The hostages were finally released after_444_ days of captivity.

13. Iran Today Iran is now an ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, a government run by religious leaders. Many of the laws today are based on SHARIA, the Islamic code of laws based on the teachings of the Quran. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN Iranian Parliament (Majlis)

14. In recent years many of Iran’s young people have protested against the repressive nature of Iran’s __________________________ government. There have been some reforms, but the mullah’s are still in control. REPRESSIVE

15. Iran is also actively developing a nuclear program and many world leaders believe Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons which would threaten the whole Middle East region. The elected President of Iran, _____________________________________, has made public pronouncements threatening Israel and the US if Iran is attacked. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

16. Iran: The next big war? Student Presentation Take notes on page 3 of regional studies guide #3

17. Muslims in America Guest speaker – take notes on page 3 of student guide

18. ISRAEL and the Palestinians

21. Israel