Starter Questions What words do you think of when you think of an Arab? How many of these words are negative? How many Arab countries can you name?

What words do you think of when you think of an Arab?

How many of these words are negative?

How many Arab countries can you name?

Arab People Arab identity is complex, just like Chinese identity A person may be Arab… … because they are a native Arab speaker … because they have Arab blood … because they have Arab politics In general, Arabs are a Semitic people like Jews

Arab identity is complex, just like Chinese identity

A person may be Arab…

… because they are a native Arab speaker

… because they have Arab blood

… because they have Arab politics

In general, Arabs are a Semitic people like Jews

Who Isn’t an Arab? Examples of non-Arab Asian Muslim peoples Turks Iranians Kurds Pakistanis Xinjiang natives Some people aren’t even Muslim but mistaken for Arabs, like the Sikhs

Examples of non-Arab Asian Muslim peoples

Turks

Iranians

Kurds

Pakistanis

Xinjiang natives

Some people aren’t even Muslim but mistaken for Arabs, like the Sikhs

Arab Society Key features Tribal Patriarchal Speak/Write Arabic Religion Most are Muslim Some are Christians, Jews, or other faiths We’ll look more at this later in the lecture

Key features

Tribal

Patriarchal

Speak/Write Arabic

Religion

Most are Muslim

Some are Christians, Jews, or other faiths

We’ll look more at this later in the lecture

Periods of Arab History When we talk about Arab history, we can divide it into three main periods: Ancient Arabia – before 630 CE Islamic Arabia – from 630 CE to late 19 th century Modern Arabia – from the late 19 th century to today

When we talk about Arab history, we can divide it into three main periods:

Ancient Arabia – before 630 CE

Islamic Arabia – from 630 CE to late 19 th century

Modern Arabia – from the late 19 th century to today

Ancient Arabia Centered on the Arabian Peninsula Arabs are related to ancient peoples of the Middle East, including Phoenicians (Lebanon/Syria) Babylonians (Iraq) Arabic was developed around 2200 years ago

Centered on the Arabian Peninsula

Arabs are related to ancient peoples of the Middle East, including

Phoenicians (Lebanon/Syria)

Babylonians (Iraq)

Arabic was developed around 2200 years ago

The Coming of Muhammad For 800 years, the Arabs were divided Small, tribal kingdoms They worshipped many different religions and often fought each other Around 570, a man named Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca (in Saudi Arabia today) In his adulthood Muhammad declared himself a prophet of God He claimed “God is One” He wrote his beliefs into a book called the Quran He tried to find followers in Mecca but the city drove him out in 622

For 800 years, the Arabs were divided

Small, tribal kingdoms

They worshipped many different religions and often fought each other

Around 570, a man named Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca (in Saudi Arabia today)

In his adulthood Muhammad declared himself a prophet of God

He claimed “God is One”

He wrote his beliefs into a book called the Quran

He tried to find followers in Mecca but the city drove him out in 622

The Rise of the Muslims Muhammad's followers were called Muslims Their religion was called Islam Around 624 they went to war with Mecca The war lasted six years Mohammed returned to Mecca in 630 Mohammed died in 632

Muhammad's followers were called Muslims

Their religion was called Islam

Around 624 they went to war with Mecca

The war lasted six years

Mohammed returned to Mecca in 630

Mohammed died in 632

Islam Inspired by Muhammad Sources of faith A holy book, the Quran The Sunna, history of Muhammad The Hadith, sayings of Muhammad Islam has many requirements, including Belief in one God, Allah Belief Muhammad was the prophet of Allah One should live like Muhammad lived

Inspired by Muhammad

Sources of faith

A holy book, the Quran

The Sunna, history of Muhammad

The Hadith, sayings of Muhammad

Islam has many requirements, including

Belief in one God, Allah

Belief Muhammad was the prophet of Allah

One should live like Muhammad lived

Conquests of Islam After Mohammad died, his followers spread Islam by the sword What does this mean? The Arabian Peninsula was unified in the 7 th century The united Arabs went to war with their neighbors in the Middle East By the 8 th century, the Arab Empire was formed from the Middle East and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe People were forced to become Muslims and learn Arabic The Arabian Peninsula became a trading capital

After Mohammad died, his followers spread Islam by the sword

What does this mean?

The Arabian Peninsula was unified in the 7 th century

The united Arabs went to war with their neighbors in the Middle East

By the 8 th century, the Arab Empire was formed from the Middle East and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe

People were forced to become Muslims and learn Arabic

The Arabian Peninsula became a trading capital

Dark red shows areas conquered by Muhammad. The orange areas were conquered by the two Caliphates (empires) that came after him.

The Golden Age of Islam From the 7 th to 13 th centuries, Islam flourished in Arabia Through trade, the Arabs learned technology from Europe, China, and Africa and also developed their own Algebra Optics Modern chemistry Modern agriculture They also preserved the classical works of the Greeks and Romans Europeans lost these works and recovered them from the Arabs! In the 12 th century, the Empire began to decline

From the 7 th to 13 th centuries, Islam flourished in Arabia

Through trade, the Arabs learned technology from Europe, China, and Africa and also developed their own

Algebra

Optics

Modern chemistry

Modern agriculture

They also preserved the classical works of the Greeks and Romans

Europeans lost these works and recovered them from the Arabs!

In the 12 th century, the Empire began to decline

Reconquista and the Turks Slowly but surely, the Europeans reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Arabs After losing Spain, the Arabs had a new threat: the Ottoman Turks, an empire born in 1300 In the 15 th century, the Turks conquered the Byzantines, the last of the Romans By the 16 th century, they controlled most of Arabia

Slowly but surely, the Europeans reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Arabs

After losing Spain, the Arabs had a new threat: the Ottoman Turks, an empire born in 1300

In the 15 th century, the Turks conquered the Byzantines, the last of the Romans

By the 16 th century, they controlled most of Arabia

The Ottoman Empire

The Fall of the Ottoman Empire For 500 years, the Ottomans were strong Starting in the 1800s, the Ottomans began losing territory to Europeans Then, in World War I, the Ottomans picked the wrong side This was the end, and in 1922, Europe took over

For 500 years, the Ottomans were strong

Starting in the 1800s, the Ottomans began losing territory to Europeans

Then, in World War I, the Ottomans picked the wrong side

This was the end, and in 1922, Europe took over

European Imperialism From 1922 on, European powers controlled the Middle East France: Syria, Lebanon, and Algeria Britain: Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq Italy: Libya and Somalia Britain also controlled Arabia through an ally, the House of Saud The Europeans created countries in these territories They also picked the local “rulers” In the 1900s, the Middle East became more important to foreign powers with the discovery of black gold That’s oil!

From 1922 on, European powers controlled the Middle East

France: Syria, Lebanon, and Algeria

Britain: Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq

Italy: Libya and Somalia

Britain also controlled Arabia through an ally, the House of Saud

The Europeans created countries in these territories

They also picked the local “rulers”

In the 1900s, the Middle East became more important to foreign powers with the discovery of black gold

That’s oil!

Arab Ideologies In the early 20 th century, the Arabs wanted to get rid of all foreign powers They developed two main political ideologies Arab nationalists, the Ba’ath Party Islamic fundamentalists such as the Muslim Brotherhood The Ba’ath Socialism with Arab characteristics Strongest in Syria and Saddam’s Iraq Islamic fundamentalists Believe society must be run along religious lines Strong in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Palestine

In the early 20 th century, the Arabs wanted to get rid of all foreign powers

They developed two main political ideologies

Arab nationalists, the Ba’ath Party

Islamic fundamentalists such as the Muslim Brotherhood

The Ba’ath

Socialism with Arab characteristics

Strongest in Syria and Saddam’s Iraq

Islamic fundamentalists

Believe society must be run along religious lines

Strong in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Palestine

The Arab-Israeli Conflict The Arabs have never accepted Israel’s existence Israel is seen as another kind of imperialism Israel controls the third-holiest sites in Islam Israel is used as an excuse by Arabs to avoid reform From 1948 until 1973, the Arabs and Israelis fought three major wars One result of these wars was that the Palestinian Arabs were forced to live in poor conditions in Arab countries When the Arabs failed to defeat Israel, Palestinians started using terrorism against Israelis and the West – and Arabs often supported them

The Arabs have never accepted Israel’s existence

Israel is seen as another kind of imperialism

Israel controls the third-holiest sites in Islam

Israel is used as an excuse by Arabs to avoid reform

From 1948 until 1973, the Arabs and Israelis fought three major wars

One result of these wars was that the Palestinian Arabs were forced to live in poor conditions in Arab countries

When the Arabs failed to defeat Israel, Palestinians started using terrorism against Israelis and the West – and Arabs often supported them

Arab Terrorism in the 1970s Most terrorists were Palestinians, who were expelled from Jordan in 1970 and went to Lebanon In 1972, Palestinian terrorists called Black September kidnapped and murdered 11 Israelis and one German at the Munich Olympics Continual Palestinian terrorism led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1978 and 1982

Most terrorists were Palestinians, who were expelled from Jordan in 1970 and went to Lebanon

In 1972, Palestinian terrorists called Black September kidnapped and murdered 11 Israelis and one German at the Munich Olympics

Continual Palestinian terrorism led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1978 and 1982

Arab Terrorism in the 1980s Suicide bombing began in the 1980s Arabs have a history of using suicide-killers The Hashshashin were suicidal killers who usually killed other Muslims Suicide is generally considered a sin unless the Muslim can kill non-Muslims With Iranian support, Arab terrorists in Lebanon regularly kidnapped Westerners The Palestinians stopped attacking international targets Today, most Palestinian terrorists only attack Israel – or each other

Suicide bombing began in the 1980s

Arabs have a history of using suicide-killers

The Hashshashin were suicidal killers who usually killed other Muslims

Suicide is generally considered a sin unless the Muslim can kill non-Muslims

With Iranian support, Arab terrorists in Lebanon regularly kidnapped Westerners

The Palestinians stopped attacking international targets

Today, most Palestinian terrorists only attack Israel – or each other

Arab Terrorism in the 1990s-on In 1989, the Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan In 1992, the Arabs who fought in Afghanistan decided to fight the West Eventually, they became known as al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden Terrorism is their weapon of choice

In 1989, the Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan

In 1992, the Arabs who fought in Afghanistan decided to fight the West

Eventually, they became known as al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden

Terrorism is their weapon of choice

Goals of al-Qaeda Destruction of Israel Expulsion of the US from the Middle East Creation of a unified Islamic empire Reclamation of all “Muslim lands” (e.g. Spain, Xinjiang) Conversion of all people to Islam

Destruction of Israel

Expulsion of the US from the Middle East

Creation of a unified Islamic empire

Reclamation of all “Muslim lands” (e.g. Spain, Xinjiang)

Conversion of all people to Islam

Modern Arab States Middle Eastern states are often oil-rich but have underdeveloped economies Most countries in the region are ruled by a monarchy, such as Jordan A question in these states is who the next kings will be

Middle Eastern states are often oil-rich but have underdeveloped economies

Most countries in the region are ruled by a monarchy, such as Jordan

A question in these states is who the next kings will be

Discussion Some Arabs say having oil is the curse of the Middle East. Why do you think that is? How can Arabs improve their image in other countries? Has the War on Terrorism helped or hurt Bin Laden? Does having kings and princes keep Arab states from being modern? Why or why not? What do you know about the status of women in Arab countries?

Some Arabs say having oil is the curse of the Middle East. Why do you think that is?

How can Arabs improve their image in other countries?

Has the War on Terrorism helped or hurt Bin Laden?

Does having kings and princes keep Arab states from being modern? Why or why not?

What do you know about the status of women in Arab countries?