PHYSICS 235 Lecture 1: Midterm1
Document Summary
The levant: identify countries of the eastern mediterranean: lebanon, syria, and palestine; do not conform to geography or history, drawn by britain and france after world war i. Religious diversity and social class in lebanon created barriers to social integration. Official language: arabic; the educated spoke french, english, or both. Religious tensions between the christians (25-43%) and muslims (sunnis 25% and shias 35%) 3rd redenomination druze religion (shia islam); affected government stability. Refugees from pakistan --> refugee citizenship; affect religious stability (and government) 90% muslim (74% sunni, the rest shias and ismailis), 7% christians, 3% druze. Densely populated because only half of the land is habitable. Syrian economy: agricultural production, oil, phosphates, and textile. Economy not self-sustaining: lack of access to land in israeli-controlled areas, import and export restrictions, and little private sector growth; heavily relies on donor aid from u. s, West bank: 12% agriculture, 2% industry, 65% services. Gaza: 12% agriculture (not reliable), 5% industry, 83% services.
