M E STU 10 Lecture 12: Middle Eastern Studies 10 Mid-Term Review
14 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
The middle east and north africa (mena) comprise nearly 21 countries. About half the population is not arab (turks, jews, persians, and kurds) More muslims than arab: over 90 percent of middle easterners practice islam. Within its essential theological unity, islam carries ethnic and political imprints and has several sectarian variations. It is a region that connects europe; africa, and asia. It is a region with religion, ethnic, and political complexity. Oil ties the west and the middle east. Levant (east or orient): east of mediterranean (lebanon and syria) Maghreb: areas west of egypt: libya, tunisia, algeria, and morocco. The land connection between these continents: europe, africa, and asia in both commercial and cultural spheres. Three monotheistic faiths: judaism; christianity, and islam originated in the region. By the time of the arab-islamic conquests, most of the inhabitants of the middle east belonged to one of the three monotheistic faiths. Diversity: (a) physical diversity; (b) cultural diversity, (c) social diversity.
