Chapter 4

The Geography and

History of Southwest
Asia (Middle East)
Chapter Preview
People
Kurds, Arabs, Persians, Abraham, Moses,
Saul, David, Solomon, Jesus, Muhammad,
Gabriel, Rightly Guided Caliphs, Saddam
Hussein, Osama bin Laden

Places
Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Arabian
Sea, Indian Ocean, Tigris River,
Euphrates River, Mediterranean Sea,
West Bank, Gaza Strip, Red Sea, Jordan
River, Canaan, Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina

Terms
oasis, Suez Canal, nomad, subsistence
agriculture, irrigation, reservoir, aquifer,
fossil water, drip irrigation, desalination,
ethnic group, religious group,
monotheism, polytheism, Judaism,
Torah, Exodus, Ten Commandments,
synagogue, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah,
Christianity, disciple, New Testament,
Messiah, crucifixion, resurrection, Bible,
church, Islam, Ka’bah, Allah, Muslim,
Quran, mosque, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr,
Eid al-Adha, al-Hijrah, Five Pillars, Sharia
Law, petroleum, OPEC, Ottoman Empire,
San Remo Agreement, nationalism,
Palestinian-Israeli conflict, refugee,
Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims, assimilate, Top: Three of the world’s largest
ISIS, Operation Desert Storm, al-Qaeda, religions have their roots in the Middle
Taliban, Operation Iraqi Freedom
East. Middle: Kuwait City. Bottom:
Tehran, Iran.

62
 The Middle East is located at the crossroads of three continents: Eu-
rope, Africa, and Asia. As a result of its location, the region has been at
the center of trade for centuries. This has greatly influenced the culture
of the people who live there. In fact, three major world religions began
there: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Countries that may be considered
Middle Eastern stretch across North Africa, to western Asia, and into the
tip of southeastern Europe. The region is characterized by oil-rich coun-
tries, importance to world religions, and political problems that generate
worldwide interest.
For the purposes of this book, we will focus on countries in Southwest
Asia, or the parts of the Middle East located on the continent of Asia.
This region is very important within the global economy because a large
amount of the world’s oil supply is located there. Because oil powers
much of the world’s economy, having a dependable and inexpensive
source for this product is important to countries around the world. Also,
the region is known as a source of groups responsible for terrorist attacks
in the United States as well as in Asia, Australia, and Europe.
The rich history and beautiful and interesting geography of Southwest
Asia are sometimes ignored because of problems in the region. In this
chapter, take some time to learn more about these historic places and the
people who make their home in this area of the world.

“
In the Middle East,
the conflict today is a
matter of generations
and not of cultures.
-S himon Peres,
former President
Turkey (top), Syria (middle) and Israel
of Israel
(bottom) are countries of the Middle
East that are located in Southwest Asia.

63
 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

TIMELINE
Top Left: The birth of Jesus is shown
in Adoration of the Shepherds by
Gerard van Honthorst. Middle Right:
Artist David Roberts depicted The OF SOUTHWEST ASIA HISTORY
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
by the Romans. Bottom Left: The first Figure 4.1
ships passed through the Suez Canal
in November 1869. Background: An
attack by coalition members destroyed 1 AD
Iraqi armored personnel carriers, tanks,
4 Approximate birth year of Jesus
and trucks during Operation Desert
Storm. 70 Romans destroyed temple in Jerusalem

313 Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity a legal religion

570 Birth of Muhammad

622 First year of Islamic calendar

630 Muhammad conquered Mecca

1869 Suez Canal built

1900

1920 San Remo agreement

1948 Israel created as a Jewish homeland

1960 OPEC founded

1973 Arab-Israeli War led to OPEC oil embargo

1978 Turkish Kurds created Kurdistan Workers’ Party
1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait
1991 Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) pushed Iraq out of Kuwait

2000 2001 Terrorist attacks of September 11 on the United States

US invasion of Afghanistan
2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom
2005 Saddam Hussein found
Elections held in Iraq
2011 Arab Spring began
US Navy SEALS killed Osama bin Laden
US troops withdrew from Iraq
2014 United States withdrew most troops from Afghanistan
2015 Over 2,000 killed in hajj stampede

64
Introduction

T
ER
SYRIAN D E S

Jordan River
West Bank
Gaza Strip

I
A L
R U B A L - K H

Map 4.1
Southwest Asia

Map Skill: Imagine an oil

tanker is traveling from Iraq
to Georgia. List four bodies of
water it might travel through
before arriving in the state.

65
 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Below: This satellite image shows

northern Africa at left, southwestern Section 1

The Geography
Asia at right, and southern Europe at
the top.

of Southwest Asia
As you read, look for
the importance of the Suez Canal to trade;
u
water issues in the region;
u
how technology leads to environmental problems;
u
countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey,
u
Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait;
rivers and bodies of water: Euphrates River, Tigris
u
River, Jordan River, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz,
Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Suez Canal;
deserts: Rub’ al-Khali, Syrian Desert;
u
terms: oasis, Suez Canal, nomad, subsistence
u
agriculture, irrigation, reservoir, aquifer, fossil water,
drip irrigation, desalination.

Location of the Countries of Southwest Asia

The best thing to do when learning about a new region or continent is
to learn where the countries are located. As you read about each country,
follow along with the map on the previous page or in the back of the
book. This will help to create a mental map so you will know where the
Southwest Asia countries are located in relation to one another as you
learn about them.

66
Section 1: The Geography of Southwest Asia

Find the country of Afghanistan on the map and place your finger
on it. Afghanistan is located at the far eastern edge of Southwest Asia.
Afghanistan is landlocked, which means it does not border any major
bodies of water. The country is very mountainous, and the people who
live there are divided into a number of different ethnic groups or tribes.
Afghanistan was at the center of world attention after the September 11,
2001, bombings in the United States because it was seen as a location
where terrorists could hide and train.
Find Iran on the map and place your finger on it. Iran is located to the
west of Afghanistan and is one of the largest countries in Southwest Asia.
Like Afghanistan, it is also mountainous; however, unlike Afghanistan,
it has long coastlines on the Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, and Arabian Sea.
Iran takes advantage of its location on the Persian Gulf to use the Strait
of Hormuz to ship petroleum and other goods to the Arabian Sea and
Indian Ocean where they can reach many world markets.
Located just west of Iran is the country of Iraq. Find Iraq on the map
and put your finger on it. It has a small amount of coastline on the Per-
sian Gulf, and two of the largest rivers in Southwest Asia—the Tigris and
Euphrates—flow through Iraq. In southern Iraq, the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers join together and form a waterway called the Shatt al-Arab. This
river runs for 125 miles before flowing into the Persian Gulf. It also serves
as part of the border between Iraq and Iran and has caused several dis-
putes between the two countries.
Now, move your finger to the northwest of Iraq and you will find the
country of Syria. Although much of the land is covered with desert, Syr-
ia does have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The narrow coastal
plain found along the Mediterranean is where much of Syria’s agricul-
tural activity occurs. The capital of Syria, Damascus, is one of the oldest Top: Kabul is the capital of the
continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is located near a large oasis. mountainous country of Afghanistan.
An oasis is a spring of fresh water found in a desert. This war-torn country has been at
Directly north of Syria is the country of Turkey. Find Turkey on your the center of conflicts for many years.
map and put your finger on it. Turkey borders Iraq, Syria, and Iran in Right: Shatt al-Arab (“Stream of the
Southwest Asia. The Euphrates and Tigris Rivers both begin in the Arabs”) is formed when the Tigris and
mountains of Turkey. Recently, Turkey has been building dams along Euphrates Rivers come together before
both of these rivers to create reservoirs to help with irrigation. These emptying into the Persian Gulf. This
dams, however, have caused problems for countries downstream that part of the waterway runs through a
are getting less water. military camp in Basra, Iraq.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Now move your finger south from Turkey, following the Mediterranean
Sea coastline. You will pass over Syria and then the country of Lebanon.
South of Lebanon is the country of Israel. Until 1948, this area was
known as Palestine. In 1948, following World War II, the United Nations
divided Palestine between the Arabs and Jews. Israel was created as a
Jewish homeland. Look more closely at Israel, and find the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip. These are territories where the Palestinian Arabs live
today. The Gaza Strip is located between Israel and the Mediterranean
Sea. Its area is only 140 square miles, which is a bit larger than the area
of Atlanta. The West Bank is located between Israel and Jordan, along
the banks of the Jordan River.
Take your finger and travel west from the West Bank through Jordan.
Then you should arrive at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest country
on the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the land in Saudi Arabia is covered
with desert. It has coasts along the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Saudi
Arabia is one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world!
Finally, find the tiny country of Kuwait located north of the northeast
corner of Saudi Arabia and put your finger on it. Do you think it looks
like a heart? It would make sense for it to be heart-shaped since it is in
the heart, or center, of Southwest Asia. Kuwait has a large amount of oil
and has an important location on the Persian Gulf. In fact, Kuwait’s oil
reserves led to the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991. Iraq invaded Kuwait
for control of their oil fields. You will learn more about this conflict later.
Now you should have a mental image of Southwest Asia and where the
countries are within the region. Keep practicing the countries’ locations until
you have them memorized. You will need a clear understanding of their
locations in order to understand their history, government, and economies.

Major Bodies of Water in Southwest Asia

Now it is time to learn about the physical features of this region. Turn
to the map in this chapter. Locate the major bodies of water as you learn
about them.
As you may have noticed, much of Southwest Asia is covered with
deserts. As a result of this hot and dry climate, rivers are very important
to the region’s people. There are three major river systems in Southwest
Asia: the Euphrates River, the Tigris River, and the Jordan River. These
Top: Both the old city and the modern
rivers are an important source of fresh water that is used both for drink-
city of Jerusalem, Israel, are seen in
ing and irrigation. These rivers are used for the transportation of goods
this view from the Mount of Olives.
and people. Many people live along these rivers, and many of the largest
Above: Hasankeyf is an ancient
cities in Southwest Asia are located along them. These cities and towns
town and district on the Tigris River
are also centers of industry. Finally, these rivers are important because
in southeastern Turkey. It has been
they provide boundaries between nations.
declared a natural conservation area.

68
Section 1: The Geography of Southwest Asia

On a map of Southwest Asia, find the Euphrates River and the Tigris
River. Trace their paths through the region before ending in the Persian
Gulf. The Euphrates River is one of the longest rivers in the world. It
begins in Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq before joining with
the Tigris River to finish its journey to the Persian Gulf. The Tigris River
is a bit smaller than the Euphrates, but it is still very valuable. It begins
in Turkey as well and then flows through Iraq to the Persian Gulf. These
two rivers provide fresh water that is used for drinking and irrigation.
The countries that share these rivers have had problems over how the
water will be shared among them.
The smallest of the three river systems is the Jordan River. Now find
the Jordan River. It is very small and hard to locate. The tributaries of the
Jordan River begin in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria and flow south
through Israel before reaching the Sea of Galilee. The Jordan River begins
at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. It flows south before ending at
the Dead Sea—which is so salty that nothing can live in it. The Jordan
River is one of the main sources of fresh water for Israel, Jordan, parts of
Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. It is also important because it
is the political boundary between Israel and the West Bank, a small part
of Syria, and the country of Jordan.
Located in the center of Southwest Asia is the Persian Gulf. Find the
Persian Gulf and put your finger on it. Your finger is now resting on the
center of all oil production in Southwest Asia. It is very important for
the transportation of oil. The countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran,
and other countries along the gulf use its waters to ship oil to other parts
of the world. In fact, all countries in Southwest Asia that produce oil
depend on the Persian Gulf as a shipping route. Before the Persian Gulf
flows into the Arabian Sea, the water must pass through a strait (narrow
waterway) called the Strait of Hormuz. Run your finger from the Persian
Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz to the Arabian Sea. Once in the Ara-
bian Sea, ships can sail west toward Africa and the Red Sea or they can
sail east toward India.

Above: This ancient canal system near

Dura Europos, Syria, was constructed
to divert water from the Euphrates
River for irrigation. Left: A night view
shows activity in a busy industrial port
in Kuwait.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Now find the Red Sea, located on the western shore of the Arabian
Peninsula. This is another very important sea route for trade and trans-
portation. Run your finger north through the Red Sea. What links the Red
Sea with the Mediterranean Sea? It is the Suez Canal! The Suez Canal
is located in Egypt and was built in 1869. The Europeans helped to build
it to shorten the trip from Europe to India. When it was completed, the
travel distance from London, England, to Bombay, India, was reduced
from about 12,400 miles sailing around Africa, to 7,300 miles by way of
the canal. By the early 20th century, the journey from London through
the canal to Bombay could be made in as little as three weeks.

Deserts in Southwest Asia

The climate of Southwest Asia is hot and dry. Even though Southwest
Asia is surrounded by many large bodies of water like the Mediterranean
Sea, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, much of the
land is still very dry. Mountain ranges that are close to the coasts block
rains coming from these bodies of water, which means that a lot of the
interior of Southwest Asia is desert. However, some parts of this region
have enough water to support agriculture. It is in these areas with access
to water that the largest cities in Southwest Asia have developed.
The largest all-sand desert in the world is located on the Arabian
Peninsula. It is called the Rub’ al-Khali, or “Empty Quarter.” There is
also a large desert called the Syrian Desert located between Syria and
Iraq. These deserts have shaped the history of Southwest Asia. At times
throughout history, they have acted as protection and have shielded the
people from invaders. However, the people of Southwest Asia have had to
adapt to their harsh environment. For a long period of history, the people
who lived in this region were nomads, meaning they moved from place
to place. Usually nomads herd livestock and move them from oasis to
oasis in the desert. The Bedouins are the largest group of nomads on the
Arabian Peninsula. Their lifestyle is slowly disappearing as the govern-
ments restrict their movements.
As the nomadic lifestyle has declined, a number of people in Southwest
Asia have begun to farm. Many people practice subsistence agriculture,
Top: This convoy of ships is passing
which means they grow small amounts of crops that are enough for a
through the Suez Canal. Above: The
family’s survival. Because the climate is so hot and dry, farmers must
Rub’ al-Khali, or “Empty Quarter,”
depend on irrigation (watering crops so they will continue to grow when
encompasses one-third of the Arabian
there is insufficient rainfall). In some of the milder areas with better access
Peninsula, including parts of Saudi
to fresh water, there are even some commercial farms that can grow large
Arabia, Yemen, the United Arab
amounts of crops that are sold at markets for profit.
Emirates, and Oman (pictured here).

70
Section 1: The Geography of Southwest Asia

Environmental Issues of Southwest Asia

Water is a very important resource in Southwest Asia for both farming
and trading. Because the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow through more
than one country, access to water has led to political conflicts in recent
years. Several countries have built dams along their section of these rivers
to create reservoirs (lakes where water is stored) for irrigation and to
generate hydroelectric power (electricity). Each dam reduces the amount
of water available to countries further downstream. No agriculture or
animal herding can take place without access to adequate sources of
fresh water.
Fresh water is distributed unevenly in Southwest Asia. Some countries,
like Turkey and Iraq, have major rivers that provide enough water for
farming communities. Israel, Syria, and Jordan share the Jordan River.
Others, like Saudi Arabia, have almost no water. They are mostly made
up of desert. Still others, like Iran, have areas with access to rivers and
areas that are made up of deserts.
As a result of the short supply of water, irrigation is necessary for
those who want to farm and raise livestock. Many types of irrigation can
be found in Southwest Asia. Some farmers use underground aquifers
(layers of underground rock where water runoff from rains and streams
is trapped) as a source of water. Other farmers use water from wells that
tap into fossil water (water that has been underground for centuries). A
problem with both aquifers and fossil water is that the amount of water
they have is fixed and cannot be replaced once it is used up. Farmers in
rural areas are still using methods that their ancestors used to irrigate their
fields. These traditional methods include waterwheels, irrigation ditches
and canals, and animal power to lift water from underground wells.
Technology is helping farmers use water more efficiently with new
irrigation techniques. Israel and Saudi Arabia have developed systems
of drip irrigation, in which computers measure how much water each
plant receives. This system reduces the amount of water that is wasted
when plants are overwatered. There has also been a lot of research on
how to desalinate seawater for drinking and irrigation. Desalination is
the process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater. While
desalination sounds like it could solve Southwest Asia’s water scarcity
problems, it has its drawbacks. Desalination is very expensive and requires
complex technology, which means poorer countries cannot afford it.

Above: The origins of the Aflaj

Irrigation Systems of Oman may date
back to AD 500, but some 3,000
such systems are still in use in Oman.
The round building is one of the
watchtowers built to defend the water
systems. Left: The Ataturk Dam on the
Euphrates River is the largest dam in
Turkey.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Countries in Southwest Asia have also used technology to modernize

their agricultural techniques. These new techniques allow farms to be
more productive, but they have also led to water pollution. As farms grow
larger, the amount of water they need for irrigation increases. This has
led to the overuse of rivers and streams. Farmers are also using chemical
fertilizers now to help their crops grow faster and be more productive.
However, these chemicals have contaminated water supplies. When it
rains or the ground is heavily irrigated, these chemicals run off into rivers
and streams, which leads to water pollution. Another problem with the
use of fertilizers is that eventually salts will build up in the soil, which
will make it difficult to grow anything. Many places in Southwest Asia
that have been irrigated for years no longer produce anything.
There has been a rush to develop industry in Southwest Asia. As a
result, many cities and towns have grown very quickly. Unfortunately,
cities sometimes have not been as quick to develop infrastructure such as
waste management (garbage) and sewer systems to keep up with rapid
growth. As a result, garbage and sewage end up in the region’s rivers.

Reviewing the Section

1. What are the three most important rivers in
Southwest Asia? Why are they so important?
2. Why is the Suez Canal important for trade?
3. What is irrigation? Why is it important in Southwest
Asia?
4. Copy the chart below and fill it in with information
from the reading.
Source of Water Definition Benefit Drawback
Aquifer
Fossil Water
Desalination

5. How has technology led to environmental

problems?
6. Putting It All Together: How has the geography of
Southwest Asia affected where people live and how
they trade? Where do most people live and why?
Above:These oil refineries are in an Which physical features make trade easier, and
which physical features make trade more difficult?
industrial zone of Haifa, Israel.

72
Section 2: The People of Southwest Asia

Section 2

The People of
Southwest Asia
As you read, look for
ethnic groups and religious groups in the region;
u
monotheism and the three religions that originated
u
in Southwest Asia;
terms: ethnic group, religious group, monotheism,
u
polytheism, Judaism, Torah, Exodus, Ten
Commandments, synagogue, Yom Kippur, Rosh
Hashanah, Christianity, disciple, New Testament,
Messiah, crucifixion, resurrection, Bible, church, Islam,
Ka’bah, Allah, Muslim, Quran, mosque, Ramadan, Eid
al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, al-Hijrah, Five Pillars, Sharia Law.

Ethnic Groups in Southwest Asia

Stop for a moment and think about the different ways people can
be grouped together. Some examples are nationality, gender, religion,
or even a certain sports team or hobby. In human geography, there are
two main ways people are divided: ethnic groups and religious groups.
The people of Southwest Asia fall into many ethnic groups and religious
groups that often overlap.
An ethnic group is a group of people who share cultural ideas and
beliefs that have been a part of their community for generations. Some
of the characteristics include language, religious beliefs, history, types
of foods, and a set of traditional stories, beliefs, or celebrations. These
things make up a common culture that is shared by people in the same
ethnic group. There are many different ethnic groups found throughout
Southwest Asia. Three of the largest are the Kurds, Arabs, and Persians.

Left: Kurds celebrate Newroz, the

festival of the spring equinox, in the
Zeytinburnu neighborhood of Istanbul.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Kurds
The Kurds live in a mountain region that spans Iran, Iraq, Syria, and
Turkey. Kurds speak Kurdish, and most are Sunni Muslims. Kurds do not
have their own homeland or government. They are a minority group ruled
by the country where they live. Many Kurds hope that one day they will
have their own country.

Arabs
Arabs are the largest ethnic group in Southwest Asia.
Most Arabs speak Arabic as their primary language. There
is a lot of diversity among the Arabs in regard to religious
beliefs. Many Arabs are Sunni Muslims. However, some
Arabs are Shia Muslims, while others are Christians. Be-
ing part of an ethnic group does not mean that everyone
follows the same religion. Ethnic groups focus more on a
shared culture and history.

Persians
Persians are an-
other ethnic group in
Southwest Asia. You
might have heard of
the Persian Empire.
These people are the
descendants of that
great empire. Persians
mainly live in Iran. In fact, the country of Persia changed its name to Iran
after World War I. Persians speak a language called Farsi. While Farsi
uses the same alphabet as Arabic, it is a different language. Most Persians
practice Islam, and they mainly practice Shia Islam.

Religious Groups in Southwest Asia

The other main way people are grouped is based on religious be-
liefs. A religious group shares a belief system in a god or gods, with a
specific set of rituals and literature. People from different ethnic groups
may share the same religion even though their cultures might be very
Top Left: Many Saudi Arabian men
different. Religion has been very important in the history and government
wear a red-and-white-checked ghutra
of Southwest Asia. Three of the largest religions in the world began in
headdress, which is secured to the
Southwest Asia: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
head with a black cord called an igal.
All three of the religions have some similarities. One of the biggest
Middle Right: This Persian family, like
similarities is monotheism, which is the belief in one god. These reli-
many in the ancient village of Abyaneh,
gions also all have a sacred text and place of worship, and Abraham is
Iran, continue to wear their traditional
an important figure in all of them.
costumes.

74
Section 2: The People of Southwest Asia

Even though Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have a lot in common, Below: Jewish men in prayer shawls
there has been conflict among these groups throughout the history of pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem,
Southwest Asia. Today, Israel is the only country that mainly practices Israel.
Judaism. The rest of the countries in Southwest Asia mainly practice Is-
lam. Christianity is a minority religion in many Southwest Asia countries.

Judaism
Judaism is the oldest of the three dominant religions in Southwest
Asia. It traces its origins back to Abraham, a man born in Mesopotamia
(an area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) in approximately 2000
BC. He was one of the first people to believe in only one god. Most of
the people who lived in Mesopotamia were polytheistic, which means
they believed in more than one god. According to the Torah, the Jewish
sacred text, God made a covenant, or agreement, with Abraham. God
promised Abraham a new nation if he would dedicate himself and the
Hebrew people to monotheism. Abraham left Mesopotamia and went to
a land that he believed God promised him. This land was called Canaan The land of Canaan
and is part of the country of Israel today. corresponds roughly to
The Hebrews lived in a land that was surrounded by other powerful present-day Lebanon,
kingdoms. Around 1300-1200 BC, the Hebrews were forced into slavery Syria, Jordan, and Israel in
in Egypt. After years of suffering, Moses led them out of slavery. This Southwest Asia.
escape is known as the Exodus, and it is remembered every year with
the celebration of Passover. During their journey back to Canaan, God
revealed Ten Commandments (divine rules of conduct) to Moses and
the Hebrews. Eventually, the Hebrews returned to Canaan and lived in
twelve self-governing tribes. The largest of these was called Judah, which
is where the name Judaism comes from.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Eventually, these tribes united into one kingdom called Israel. They
were ruled by many powerful kings, like Saul, David, and Solomon.
David established the city of Jerusalem, and Solomon would later build
a great temple there. However, the Israelites struggled in conflicts with
powerful neighbors. The Israelites would eventually lose control of their
lands to the Roman Empire. In AD 70, the Romans destroyed most of
the second temple in Jerusalem. The only remaining part of the temple
is the Western Wall, which is now also known as the Wailing Wall and
is a place where Jews go to pray in Jerusalem. At this point in history,
the Jews were forced out of their lands and were scattered throughout
the world. This is known as the diaspora, or scattering of the Jews. Even
though they lost control of Jerusalem and their lands, Jews still believed
that this was the land God promised to them.
Today, Jews can be found throughout the world. While some traditions
may vary between groups of Jews, there are some things that are the
same. Followers of Judaism are called Jews. The sacred text is called the
Torah. Jews worship in a synagogue or temple. Some of the important
Jewish holidays include Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Rosh
Hashanah (Jewish New Year).

Christianity
Christianity is the second-oldest religion that originated in Southwest
Asia. It began in the first century AD. Christianity is a religious movement
that grew out of Judaism during the time of Roman rule in Palestine. The
founding figure in Christianity is Jesus, a man who was born in Bethlehem
in Judea to a Jewish family in about 4 BC. Jesus lived in Nazareth and
Top: The Western Wall is the only worked as a carpenter until he began to attract attention as a teacher and
remaining part of the second temple preacher when he reached the age of thirty. Even though Jesus followed
in Jerusalem. Often called the “Wailing Jewish law and beliefs, he taught about a more personal relationship with
Wall,” it is a traditional place for Jews God that focused on both the love of God and the generous treatment of
to pray. Above: A handwritten Torah, neighbors and acquaintances. His followers were called disciples, and
along with a kippah (skullcap) and much of their writings provide what we know about the life and teachings
tallit (fringed prayer shawl), lie on a of Jesus. In fact, the first four books of the New Testament are made of
synagogue altar. these writings. They are often referred to as the Gospels.

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 Section 2: The People of Southwest Asia

Many Roman and Jewish leaders

grew worried about the attention Jesus
attracted among the common people. His
followers were calling him the Messiah,
or “savior of man,” that Jews had been
waiting for. Jewish leaders claimed that
Jesus was encouraging his followers to
believe this and was therefore guilty of
crimes against Jewish teachings. Pontius
Pilate, a Roman governor, saw Jesus as
a threat to his authority and that of the
Roman Empire. As a result,
Jesus was sentenced to death
by crucifixion. During this time,
crucifixion was a common
form of execution in which a
person was nailed or tied to a
cross and suspended there until
he died.
Jesus’s followers believed
that he rose from the dead after three days and walked among
them before going to heaven. They continued to call him the
Messiah or the Greek word “Christos,” which was eventually
shortened to “Christ.” They also called him the “Son of God.”
News of Jesus’s resurrection, or rising from the dead, began
to spread quickly. The resurrection along with his teachings
became the basis for Christianity.
The Romans were angered by this new religion because
followers refused to worship the Roman gods and goddesses.
Many early Christians were killed by Roman authorities in the
years after Jesus’s time, but the religion continued to gain new
followers. People liked the new religion because it emphasized
the teachings from the Old Testament as well as the loving and
forgiving God that Jesus described. By the year AD 300, Christi-
anity had spread to most parts of the Roman Empire. In AD 313,
Roman Emperor Constantine officially ended the harsh treatment
of Christians and made Christianity a legal religion within the
empire. This allowed Christianity to gain even more followers
and continue to spread.
Today, Christianity is the largest religion in the world. Followers, who
are called Christians, can be found on all the continents. While some tra- Above: The Church of the Nativity
ditions vary among different denominations of Christianity, many of the in Bethlehem, Israel, is built on the
main beliefs and traditions are the same. The biggest difference between site traditionally believed to be the
Judaism and Christianity is that Christians believe Jesus was the Messiah. birthplace of Christ. Above: The Church
The Christian sacred text is called the Bible. The first five books of the of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
Christian Bible are the same as the text of the Jewish Torah. Christians is said to have been built on two of
worship in a church or cathedral. Some of the important Christian holi- Christianity’s most important places:
days include Christmas (celebrating Jesus’s birth) and Easter (celebrating the site of Jesus’s execution and the
Jesus’s resurrection). site of his burial and resurrection.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Islam
The third religion that began in
Southwest Asia is Islam. It began
in the city of Mecca on the Ara-
bian Peninsula in the AD 600s.
Before Islam began, Mecca was a
center for trade along a route that
connected the Red Sea with the
Byzantine Empire. Many different
people visited Mecca because it
was a stop on the trade route. In the
center of town stood a cube-shaped
building, the Ka’bah, which held
several hundred different idols. The
people of Mecca believed that the
building had originally been built
by Abraham and his son, Ishmael,
to honor God for saving them from dying in the desert. Over the centuries,
however, statues of many idols and gods were placed in the building.
Muhammad was born in Mecca in AD 570. Orphaned at an early
age, he went to live with his uncle, who trained him to be a merchant.
Muhammad married an older woman and took over her caravan busi-
ness and became a respected member of the Mecca community. His life
changed at the age of forty, when he heard the voice of the angel Gabriel
telling him to bring the word of Allah, or the one God, to the people. After
much worrying and discussions with his wife, Muhammad decided that
the voice was real, and he began to tell others in Mecca about what he
had heard. He told the people that they needed to worship Allah. Those
who were willing to agree to this monotheistic belief became known as
Muslims, which means “ones who submit” to the will of God.
Many people in Mecca were worried that Muhammad’s teachings
would hurt their trade by angering people who worshipped other gods.
Some of his followers began to face threats and violence. To escape
these hazards, in AD 622, Muhammad and his followers moved to Yath-
rib, a city about 200 miles
north of Mecca. Muhammad
renamed the city Medina,
which means “the city of the
prophet.” Muslims call this
move the Hijrah (or Hijra),
and the year 622 became
the first year of the Islamic
calendar. The people of Me-
Top: The Great Mosque of Mecca, the dina accepted Muhammad
largest mosque in the world, surrounds as both a political and reli-
Islam’s holiest place, the cube-shaped gious leader. Many of them
building called the Ka’bah. Right: A converted to the new religion
green dome covers the tomb of the of Islam.
Prophet Muhammad in Medina.

78
Section 2: The People of Southwest Asia

In AD 630, Muhammad returned to Mecca

with an army. The city surrendered so they
could avoid a war. One of Muhammad’s first
acts after entering Mecca was to go to the
Ka’bah and remove all the idols. He then
dedicated the buildings to Allah.
Islam continued to spread after Muham-
mad’s death. It spread rapidly throughout the
Arabian Peninsula and parts of the Persian
and Byzantine Empires. The Rightly Guided
Caliphs, four men who had been friends
with Muhammad, led Muslim armies. They
conquered areas where the older empires had
weakened over the years. The word “caliph”
means leader or ruler. Many people welcomed
the Muslims and converted to Islam. After
Muhammad’s death, his followers collected the teachings from the angel
Gabriel into the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Some stories and charac-
ters from the Christian Bible are also included in the Quran, so Muslims
see the Quran and Islam as the final and complete word of Allah.
Today, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world. It is also the
largest religion practiced in Southwest Asia. Its followers, called Muslims,
worship in a mosque. There are two main branches of Islam: Shia and
Sunni. Even though the different branches of Islam have some different
interpretations of beliefs, there are many traditions and beliefs they share.
Some of the important Muslim holidays include Ramadan (month of
fasting), Eid al-Fitr (at the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (festival of
sacrifice at the end of the hajj), and al-Hijra (the Islamic New Year).

Top: A young Shia Muslim woman

prays at the Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque in
Iran. Most Iranians are Shia Muslim.
Left: Sunni Muslims perform Tarawih
(extra prayers at night) during the
Islamic month of Ramadan.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Mecca and the Ka’bah are still important to Muslims. A visit to Mecca
and the Ka’bah are part of the Five Pillars or five basic obligations of
Islam. The first is called the Shahada, which is the declaration of faith.
The second is Salat, which means praying five times a day in the direc-
tion of Mecca. The third is Zakat, or giving to charity to help the poor.
The fourth is Sawm, which means no drinking or eating while the sun
is up during the month of Ramadan. The final Pillar is the hajj, which is
a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Some Muslim countries have based their laws on the law of the Qu-
ran. This is called Sharia Law. You will find Sharia Law practiced in
many countries in Southwest Asia, like Saudi Arabia and Iran. Muslims
view Jews and Christians as “People of the Book,” because so much of
the Torah and Bible is included in the Quran. This means that Jews and
Christians should be respected. They are not required to give Zakat to the
poor, but they must pay a special tax in countries following Sharia Law.

Reviewing the Section

1. What is an ethnic group? Give three examples in
Southwest Asia.
2. Copy the chart below and fill it in with information
from the reading.
Ethnic Group Where Do They Live? What Are the Main
Religions Practiced?
Kurds
Arabs
Persians
3. What three main religions were started in
Southwest Asia?
4. What is monotheism?
5. Copy the chart below and complete it with
information from the reading.
Sacred Place of Major
Religion Founder Followers
Text Worship Beliefs
Judaism
Christianity
Islam

6. Putting It All Together: Southwest Asia is a land

of incredible diversity in the ethnic groups and
religious groups of its people. How do you think
Above: One of the Five Pillars of Islam
this affects the people who live there?
is the Salat—praying five times a day in
the direction of Mecca.

80
Section 3: OPEC and Oil in Southwest Asia

Section 3

OPEC and Oil in

Southwest Asia
As you read, look for
the most valuable natural resources in the region;
u
the purpose of OPEC;
u
how the presence or absence of oil impacts
u
economies of the region;
how Israel and Turkey have been economically
u
successful without oil reserves;
terms: petroleum, Organization of Petroleum
u
Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The Importance of Oil

Over half of the world’s
It is surprising the ways oil comes into our lives. Even getting ready
oil reserves are located in
for school puts a person in contact with many products made from oil, Southwest Asia.
or petroleum. Some of the products include soap, shampoo, shower
curtains, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, and many articles of
clothing. Petroleum is used to make all of these things and more. Much
of the world’s economy relies on oil. Southwest Asia has large amounts
of oil and natural gas. The high demand for these two resources brings
wealth into the region.
Oil and natural gas were first discovered in Southwest Asia at the
beginning of the 20th century. At first, the companies that were drilling
and refining most of the oil were from the United States and Europe. To-
day, however, most of the oil operations are controlled by the countries
of Southwest Asia. This has made some of those countries very rich and
has given them a lot of control over the global economy.

The Influence of OPEC

In 1960, several Southwest Asia countries that had large oil supplies
joined with other oil-rich countries, like Venezuela, to create the Orga-
nization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The first five
members of OPEC were Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela.
More countries, like Nigeria and Indonesia, have joined since then. The
primary function of OPEC is to control the price of oil on the world mar-
ket. The most common way to control the price of a good or service is to
control the supply. When the countries of OPEC produce less oil, its price
increases. When they produce more oil, its price decreases.

81
 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

The OPEC countries have worked throughout the last fifty years to
try to influence world events by controlling the oil supply. Occasionally,
OPEC has called for an embargo of oil supplies to get
political and economic agreements from other countries.
One example of this occurred during the Arab-Israeli War
in 1973. The Arab members of OPEC supported the Pal-
estinian Arabs in this war against the Israelis. The United
States and countries in Europe supported the Israelis. To
convince the United States to stop its support of Israel,
OPEC placed an embargo on trade with the United States
and the other countries that were supporting Israel, such
as Canada and the United Kingdom. As a result of this
embargo, countries were thrown into an oil crisis. This
caused gas shortages throughout the United States, and
in many places, gas was rationed. The embargo was lifted
in 1974 once the conflict was over.

Oil-Rich versus Oil-Poor Countries

While many countries in Southwest Asia, such as Saudi Arabia and
Iran, have benefited from the money that comes from exporting oil,
other countries, such as Israel, have not been as lucky. The Southwest
Asia countries with the largest oil reserves are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran,
and Kuwait. Some of the other countries, especially those found around
the Persian Gulf, have smaller reserves. These oil-rich countries have
experienced tremendous growth in national wealth, which has led to an
improved standard of living. Those countries without oil reserves have
had a much more difficult time trying to improve living conditions for
their populations. This difference in wealth in some of the Southwest
Asia countries has led to conflicts among the nations.
Israel and Turkey, however, are exceptions. While Israel and Turkey
do not have large oil reserves, their economies have had a lot of success
and their people have enjoyed an increasing standard of living. One of
the reasons for their success is that they have diversified their economies.
This means they have found several different ways to create income and
products to export, instead of relying on just one export, like oil-rich
countries do.

Reviewing the Section

1. What are the most valuable resources in Southwest
Asia? Why are they so valuable?
2. What is the purpose of OPEC?
3. How does OPEC influence the price of oil?
4. How has the presence or absence of oil affected the
economies of countries in Southwest Asia?
Above: There was a gas shortage in
5. What have Israel and Turkey done to make up for
the United States in 1973 when OPEC
their lack of oil reserves?
embargoed sales of oil to Israel’s allies
during the Yom Kippur War.

82
Section 4: A Brief History of Southwest Asia

Section 4

A Brief History of
Southwest Asia
As you read, look for
how European partitioning of the Ottoman Empire
u
after World War I led to problems and conflicts;
the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis;
u
the division of Islam into Sunni and Shia branches;
u
the Kurdish nationalist movement;
u
conflicts in the region involving US military forces;
u
terms: Ottoman Empire, San Remo Agreement,
u
nationalism, Palestinian-Israeli conflict, refugee, Sunni
Muslims, Shia Muslims, assimilate, ISIS, Operation
Desert Storm, al-Qaeda, Taliban, Operation Iraqi
Freedom.

European Partitioning of Southwest Asia

Until the end of World War I, much of Southwest Asia was controlled
by the Ottoman Empire, as it had been since the 1300s. During World
War I, however, the Ottomans made a fatal error by allying with Germany,
Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary. Germany and her allies lost World War I.
At the end of the war, not only had the Ottoman Empire lost, but
there was a rebellion within the weakened empire. After the San Remo
Agreement in 1920, the remains of the empire were partitioned, or di-
vided, into smaller countries. Many of these new countries, like Turkey,
are part of Southwest Asia today.

Left: Mehmed VI, the last sultan of

the Ottoman Empire, was exiled
from Turkey after the abolition of
the Ottoman sultanate. Turkey was
declared a republic after the San Remo
Agreement.

83
 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Even though people across Southwest Asia were happy to be free of

Ottoman rule, independence did not bring peace to the region. When
the European politicians drew borders for the new countries, they paid
little attention to the ethnic and religious groups living in these areas,
and the groups were not allowed to have input into these decisions. Ad-
ditionally, the new boundaries did not take into consideration the sense
of nationalism (the idea that countries are most successful if the people
who live there share some common cultural, historic, or religious beliefs)
among the people of Southwest Asia. As a result, there has been ongoing
conflict in the region. Many different groups have tried to live together
in countries that were created by those who did not realize the problems
some of these new boundaries would cause.

Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
One of the most important conflicts that resulted from the new bound-
aries is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In May 1948, the United Nations
announced the creation of the country of Israel as a Jewish homeland.
War began shortly thereafter between
the Israeli Jews and the Palestinian Arabs
who also lived in the area that was now
the state of Israel. The neighboring Arab
countries, like Jordan and Lebanon, sup-
ported the Palestinian claims to the land.
The Israelis, however, were able to win the
war and even gained more land than they
were originally promised by the United
Nations. As a result, many Palestinian Ar-
abs became refugees (people who had to
leave their homes as the result of the war).
Over the last sixty years, there have
been additional wars between the Israelis
and the Palestinians. Israel has continued
to exist, and many of the Palestinians
and their descendants still live in refugee
camps or in parts of Israel that they feel
should be a Palestinian state. The prob-
lems between these two people still exist,
even though both sides continue to look
for a peaceful solution to their disagree-
ments. Arab countries in the area are
strong supporters of the Palestinians, while
the United States is a powerful supporter
of the Israelis. The Arab-Israeli conflict
plays a major role in the difficulties the
United States and the rest of the world face
when trying to find peaceful settlements
Above: Palestinians, such as these in to conflicts in Southwest Asia.
1948, were forced from their homes
when the State of Israel was created.

84
Section 4: A Brief History of Southwest Asia

Sunni and Shia Division

Another source of conflict in Southwest Asia is the division in Islam
between Sunnis and Shias. After Muhammad died, there was a disagree-
ment about who should be the leader of the Muslim community. At first,
the disagreement was solved by placing power in the hands of Muham-
mad’s friends, the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs. When the last of those
four men died, however, the disagreement over the next leader came up
again. One group thought leadership should go to whoever would be
best at keeping the community together. Those people saw themselves
as closely following Muhammad’s example, and they became known as
Sunni Muslims.
The second group believed that leadership should go to Muhammad’s
heir, or a direct descendent of Muhammad. They wanted to choose one
of Muhammad’s grandsons, who were children of his son-in-law Ali, for
leadership. They became known as the Shia-Ali, or “supporters of Ali.”
Today, those people are known as Shia Muslims. Soon after the last of
the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs died, a battle for control began, which
resulted in the death of one of Muhammad’s grandsons.
These divisions within Muslim communities remain even today,
though there is little difference in their basic religious beliefs. The Sunni
Muslims have always been the largest branch of Islam. Today, they make
up about 85 percent of Muslims. The Shia Muslims have always been
a minority, but they make up a large portion of some countries today,
like Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. In fact, Iran is over 90 percent Shia. The
disagreements between the two branches have sometimes led to tensions
between countries within Southwest Asia. For example, Saudi Arabia
is mainly Sunni and is home to the city of Mecca, where Muslims go
on the pilgrimage called the hajj. In 2015, there was a major stampede
during the hajj when over 2,000 people were killed. Many of those who
were killed were from Iran, which is mainly Shia. The deaths of Iranian Above: Flags of Iran and Saudi Arabia
citizens in Saudi Arabia led to tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. on a cracked paint wall symbolize the
The Iranian government criticized the way Saudi Arabia runs the hajj, long conflict between the two nations.
and they even suspended Iranian participation in the hajj in 2016. The Tehran and Riyadh have had strained
tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran continued. relations over different religious and
political issues.

85
 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Kurdish Nationalism
Another problem that resulted from the national
boundaries is what happened to the Kurdish home-
land. After the dust settled and the new borders were
drawn, the Kurds found their land divided among four
countries: Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. The Kurds are
different from Arabs, Persians, and Turks. They speak
their own language, Kurdish, and have a separate
history, literature, music, and set of traditions.
The Kurds were very upset that they did not gain
their own country following World War I. There was
even a treaty that allowed for the creation of Kurd-
istan for the Kurds; but it was never signed and was
replaced by a treaty that did not mention Kurdistan.
Nationalist movements began to spread among Kurds
in each of their assigned countries. The experience of
each Kurdish group has been different in each country.
In Turkey, for example, the government worked
to assimilate the Kurds into Turkish culture by
trying to force them to give up their language and
identity. In 1978, the Kurds living in Turkey created
the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK in the Kurdish
language. Members of this group support an indepen-
dent Kurdistan. Since the creation of the PKK, there have been armed
conflicts between the PKK and the Turkish army. In 2002, Turkey finally
allowed education in the Kurdish language for the first time in history.
This change was made because Turkey wanted to become part of the
European Union, and many European
nations do not like the way Turkey had
treated the Kurds. Despite this change
in the laws, tensions between the PKK
and the Turkish government are still
high. Both groups have been involved
with the fight against the terror group
ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria). Even though they now have a
common enemy, tensions remain high
between Kurds and Turks.
The Kurds faced similar treatment
in Iran. The Kurds are mainly Sunni
Muslims, while the Iranians are main-
ly Shia Muslims. This led to a major
conflict between the two groups. The
Above: Members of the Kurdistan Kurds in Iran created a nationalistic
Workers’ Party (PKK) support an group called the Kurdish Democratic
independent Kurdistan. Right: Party of Iran (KDPI). While the KDPI
Protesters rally against Turkish attacks disagrees with the Iranian government,
on Kurds who are fighting ISIS, the this conflict has not been as brutal as
common enemy of Turks and Kurds. the conflict in Turkey.

86
Section 4: A Brief History of Southwest Asia

In Iraq, the Kurds were never forced to give up their language or culture.
However, the Iraqi government did not give them the same rights as Arab
Iraqis. This has led to many conflicts between the Kurds and
the Iraqi government. In the 1970s, the Iraqi government
began allowing Arab Iraqis to live in the Kurdish areas
within Iraq. The Kurds were forced to leave these areas,
which they resisted. In retaliation to the Kurdish resis-
tance, the Iraqi government, led by Saddam Hussein, used
chemical weapons on the Kurds. They did not just target
the Kurdish fighters, but women, children, and the elderly
as well. Thousands of Kurds were killed during this time.
Eventually, the United States helped the Kurds create an
area in Iraq where they were safe from chemical weapons.
Today, this part of northern Iraq is controlled by the Kurds,
where they live like they are almost independent from the
Iraqi government and even have their own parliament.
Regardless of which country they live in now, the Kurds
continue to work for their own independent country within
Southwest Asia. Many maps of Southwest Asia today show
an area called Kurdistan. While it is not an official country,
it is the area in which most Kurds live.

US Presence and Interests in Southwest Asia

The United States has had major political and economic interests in
Southwest Asia since the 1800s. During the 19th century, US merchants,
missionaries, and tourists began to visit Southwest Asia. Additionally,
vast oil supplies were found there, and the United States needed oil for
its own energy supplies. Since the end of World War I, the United States
has been involved in the politics of Southwest Asia. The United States
helped with diplomacy between countries after the fall of the Ottoman
Empire and has been one of the biggest supporters of Israel since 1948.
As the 21st century began, the United States focused on Southwest Asia
with the goal of trying to end terrorism and promote democracy within
the region. The United States has fought three major wars in Southwest
Asia since the 1990s.

Above: Hundreds of Kurdish victims

of Saddam Hussein’s 1988 chemical
weapons attack are buried in a village
cemetery. Left: In 2003, a US soldier
stood guard duty near a burning oil
well in Iraq’s Rumalia oilfield.

87
 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Persian Gulf Conflict (1990-1991)

One major conflict that the United States was involved in occurred in
1990-1991. This war was called the Persian Gulf conflict and is sometimes
referred to as Operation Desert Storm. It began in August 1990, when
Iraq invaded Kuwait in an attempt to gain control
over Kuwait’s large supplies of oil. Saddam Hussein,
Iraq’s leader, said that Kuwait was taking more oil
than it should and had even drilled under the border
to take Iraq’s oil. Additionally, Saddam Hussein also
claimed that, when the Ottoman Empire was bro-
ken up, the land that became Kuwait should have
really been part of Iraq. The creation of the country
of Kuwait in 1920 meant that Iraq lost most of its
coastline on the Persian Gulf, which it needed so
it could ship its oil to other countries more easily.
The United States was concerned about this
invasion because, at the time, the United States got
a large amount of its imported oil from Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia. Kuwait was a member of the United
Nations, like the United States. One of the purposes
of the United Nations is for member nations to help each other if one of
the members is attacked by another country without reason. At first, the
United Nations gave Iraq an ultimatum: withdraw its army from Kuwait
or the UN would send armed forces to Kuwait. Iraq refused.
As a result of Iraq’s refusal, the United Nations voted to send a military
force to liberate, or free, Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion. Since this invasion
was a threat to their oil supply, the United States sent troops to be part of
this UN force. Of the 700,000 soldiers in the UN military force, 540,000
were from the United States. In total, 39 different countries participated in
the effort to get Iraq out of Kuwait. The United Nations forces arrived in
early 1991 and within six weeks the Iraqi army was driven from Kuwait.
In February 1991, the Iraqi government accepted a truce and agreed to
withdraw from Kuwait. Iraq also had to agree to get rid of its weapons of
mass destruction, or WMDs, (chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons)
and to allow United Nations inspectors in to ensure that they were actually
dismantling these dangerous weapons. This part of the peace agreement
would eventually lead to another war in Iraq in 2003.

Top: Coalition troops from Egypt, Syria,

Oman, France, and Kuwait fought in
Operation Desert Storm. Bottom: Oil
well fires raged outside Kuwait City
in the aftermath of Operation Desert
Storm.

88
Section 4: A Brief History of Southwest Asia

US Troops in Afghanistan (2001-2014)

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, changed the United States
forever. On that day, terrorists hijacked four commercial jet airliners. Two
jets were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City, causing
so much damage that the Twin Towers collapsed. One jet flew into the
Pentagon, which is where the United States Department of Defense is
located, and destroyed part of the building. One final jet crashed in a field
in Pennsylvania. We do not know its intended target, but many people
think it was the White House or the Capitol in Washington, DC.
After these terrible attacks, US intelligence sources identified a terrorist
group called al-Qaeda, or “the Force,” as the people who had planned
and carried out the attack. Its leader was a man who was born in Saudi
Arabia named Osama bin Laden. His family was very wealthy, and he had
used this wealth to finance al-Qaeda. One of the goals of al-Qaeda was to
stop the influence of American and European culture in Southwest Asia.
Sources in the United States government believed that al-Qaeda members
were hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan. At this time, the government
of Afghanistan was controlled by a group of Islamic extremists called the
Taliban, who enforced very strict Sharia Law throughout Afghanistan.
The Taliban was sympathetic to al-Qaeda and allowed them to have their
training camps in Afghanistan.
In October 2001, the United States launched a series of attacks on
the mountain areas of Afghanistan where they believed al-Qaeda was
hiding. The main goal of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden
and destroy al-Qaeda. The Taliban-controlled government crumbled. It
took ten years of fighting and searching, but Osama bin Laden was finally
found in 2011. He was located in a compound in Pakistan, a country that
borders Afghanistan. The United States sent a group of Navy SEALS into
the compound and bin Laden was killed.
The United States helped the Afghani people set up a democracy and
hold free and fair elections for the first time in many years. However,
peace had not come to Afghanistan. The Taliban tried to reclaim control
of the government, and the country has not been very stable. The United
States finally withdrew most of its troops in 2014, but there are still some
American troops in Afghanistan helping to support the government and
train new security and military forces.

Above: The south tower of the World

Trade Center went up in flames after
being struck by a plane on September
11, 2001. Left: After the September
11 terror attacks, the United States
launched a series of attacks in
Afghanistan to destroy al-Qaeda and
capture its leader, Osama bin Laden.

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 Chapter 4: The Geography and History of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

US Invasion of Iraq (2003-2011)

As you have read, Iraq was required to destroy its weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs) at the end of the Persian Gulf conflict, and UN in-
spectors were to observe the dismantling of the WMDs. Saddam Hussein
refused to allow the inspection, and the United States worried that Iraq was
developing nuclear weapons and offering help to groups like al-Qaeda. As
a result of this view that Iraq was a threat, the United States invaded Iraq
in 2003. This invasion is often referred to as Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Saddam Hussein’s government quickly collapsed because so many Iraqi
people felt he was a cruel and unfair leader. Hussein went into hiding
and was not found until 2005. After the United States captured him, he
was turned over to the Iraqi people and then put on trial. He was found
guilty of many crimes and was executed. However, the end of Saddam
Hussein’s rule did not bring peace to Iraq. The United States did not have
a plan to help reorganize the country once Hussein’s dictatorship was
over. The country fell into civil war between Sunni and Shia Muslims,
as well as ethnic groups like the Kurds.
US forces remained in Iraq trying to set up a stable government. In 2005,
elections were held in Iraq for the first time in many years, but the new
government was not strong or stable, and conflict continued throughout
the country. In 2011, the United States withdrew its last troops from Iraq.
The country remains unstable and the rise of ISIS has caused additional
problems throughout the country.

Reviewing the Section

1. How did European partitioning of the Ottoman
Empire after World War I lead to problems and
conflict in Southwest Asia?
2. What event caused the conflict between the
Palestinians and Israelis?
3. Why did Islam split into Sunni and Shia branches? How
does this division continue to affect Southwest Asia?
4. What is the goal of the Kurdish nationalist
movement?
5. Copy the chart below and complete it with
information from the reading.
When Did What Caused What Were the
Conflict This Conflict This Conflict to Results of This
Happen? Happen? Conflict?
Persian Gulf War
US Invasion of
Afghanistan
Operation Iraqi
Freedom

Top: An inspector from the 6. Based on the chart you completed above, what are
the main interests of the United States in Southwest
International Atomic Energy Agency
Asia?
performed weapons inspections in Iraq
in 2002.

90
 special
Feature
The Arab Spring
The Arab Spring is a term used to describe protests
against governments that occurred throughout North Africa
and Southwest Asia during 2010 and 2011. It all began with
the actions of one man. In December 2010 in Tunisia, a street
vendor protested his unfair treatment by Tunisian police
by setting himself on fire. What followed was a revolution!
People began to protest against the government of Tunisia.
Eventually, the president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, fled the country
after twenty-three years in power. A temporary government took
control of Tunisia until a new constitution was written and free
elections were finally held in December 2011.
The people in Egypt were watching the event unfold in Tunisia
and became inspired. Violent protests against the rule of President
Hosni Mubarak, who had been president for thirty years, began.
Clashes between protestors and security forces occurred. Eventually,
Mubarak fled the country after the military stopped supporting
him. New elections were held in 2012, but things in Egypt are not
completely stable even today.
Other countries throughout Southwest Asia and North Africa
watched the events in Tunisia and Egypt with interest. In some
countries, similar protests occurred but with different outcomes.
In Bahrain, the government crushed the pro-democracy protests
quickly. Protests in Libya led to a revolution, and a new government
is in place that is not in control of the entire country. In Yemen and
Syria, both countries descended into civil war. The governments
of some countries, like Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman, took
action to try and stop protests before they began. These actions
included constitutional changes and the removal of unpopular
government employees.
In the years since the Arab Spring began, the results of this pro-
democracy movement have been a mixture of good and bad. In
some countries, people still enjoy their new freedoms. On the other
hand, the demonstrations and protests within countries have led to
an increase in tensions and conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims
throughout Southwest Asia and North Africa. Many people reported Top: Protesters marched on Avenue
that corruption within many governments increased. Finally, the Habib Bouruiba in the city of Tunis,
civil war in Syria and instability in Iraq caused the group called ISIS Tunisia. The Arab Spring began with
to try to create a new country that joined Syria and Iraq. While a protest by a Tunisian street vendor.
the protests of the Arab Spring were long over, their legacy has Background: An activist protested
remained. What do you think the future holds for pro-democracy against Egyptian President Mohamed
movements in Southwest Asia and North Africa? Morsi in Alexandria, Egypt, in 2013.

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 Chapter Review
Chapter Summary • Because people around the world have become
dependent on oil in recent history, OPEC can
influence world events by controlling supplies
Section 1: The Geography of and enforcing embargoes.
Southwest Asia
• Many countries in this region have ample
• The Euphrates, Tigris, and Jordan Rivers play supplies of petroleum and have grown rich by
an important role in farming, trade, and politics. exporting it, but some other countries without
• Most Southwest Asia countries rely on bodies of oil also flourish by having many exports.
water like rivers, the Persian Gulf, and the Suez
Canal to ship their main export, oil. Section 4: A Brief History of
• This region is largely covered by desert and Southwest Asia
mountains; this historically encouraged a • The Ottoman Empire controlled most of this
nomadic lifestyle and now subsistence farming region until World War I when Europeans
to survive in the harsh environment. divided the empire into new countries such as
• In a region where water is scarce, systems of Iraq and Turkey.
drip irrigation are used to ensure no water is • Europeans did not consider religious and ethnic
wasted and desalination is being researched to groups when drawing political boundaries. This
turn seawater into usable fresh water. has caused conflicts between different ethnic
and religious groups.
Section 2: The People of • The United States has been involved in this
Southwest Asia region’s politics since western countries began
• An ethnic group is a group of people who share relying on oil. The United States has invaded
cultural practices and beliefs such as language, multiple countries.
food, and a shared history.
• A religious group is a group of people who
practice the same religion. Although a certain Activities for Learning
religion may be practiced by most people of an
ethnic group, ethnic and religious groups are Reviewing People, Places,
not the same thing. and Things
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated Imagine you are an American journalist writing
in Southwest Asia and share many traits such about Southwest Asia. Using your knowledge of the
as monotheism, important cities, and shared region, write realistic headlines using each of the
history. words and names below.
irrigation Jordan River
Section 3: OPEC and Oil in Persian Gulf Kurds
Southwest Asia
Mecca OPEC
• Petroleum is a natural resource than can be petroleum nationalism
processed into many different goods we use
refugees United States
every day such as gasoline, shampoo, and
clothing.
• OPEC is an acronym for the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries. Its purpose is to
control oil production to make more money.

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Chapter 4: Review

Understanding the Facts Writing across the Curriculum

1. What is the capital of Syria? 1. Write a short report on the history of United
2. Why is the Strait of Hormuz important? States interventions in Southwest Asia.
3. Name one country that is not landlocked. What Generalize about the success of these actions
body of water does it touch? and list some of their unintended consequences.
4. What is the difference between monotheism 2. Write a short report describing how decisions
and polytheism? made by Europeans after World Wars I and II
have led to conflicts in Southwest Asia. Use
5. Name the places of worship for Jews,
the Kurdish nationalist struggle as a concrete
Christians, and Muslims.
example for each point you make.
6. What is the primary function of OPEC?
7. How do oil reserves help a country gain power? Applying Your Skills
8. What is nationalism? 1. What is something you found interesting
9. Name one conflict that has arisen due to while reading Section 2? Formulate a research
uninformed drawing of political boundaries question about this interest. Write down your
after World War I. research question and name some sources that
10. What was Operation Desert Storm? could help you answer this question.
2. Create a chart comparing and contrasting the
Developing Critical Thinking beliefs, number of followers, and location of
1. Water is incredibly important in this region Shia and Sunni Muslims.
because it is scarce. Countries often share
sources of fresh water for necessities such as
drinking water and farming. How do you think Exploring Technology
this need to share could encourage increased 1. Make a list of ten items (excluding gasoline
cooperation between countries? On the other and fuel) that you think may be made from
hand, how could it lead to conflict? petroleum. Using reliable sources on the
2. Many countries around the Persian Gulf have Internet, research whether the items you listed
large oil reserves and their economies rely are in fact made from petroleum. Mark items
almost solely on the export of petroleum. that are not made from petroleum and list
What are some positive and negative aspects another product that is.
of having such a valuable natural resource but 2. Spend some time studying the Middle East in
lacking a diversified economy? Consider both Google Maps and/or a map from your book.
economic and political aspects as well as the Then take the quiz at tiny.cc/mequiz and
country’s continued prosperity into the future. review your results. Record your score and any
3. Israel is the only predominately Jewish country questions that were incorrect.
in the world. How do you think the founding of
Israel compares to the Kurdish people’s desire
for a country?

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