A Critique of the Proposed National Education Policy Reform
2 north africasouthwestasiacultural sub
1. North Africa and Southwest Asia
(Middle East)
Cultural Characteristics
2. Cultural Characteristics: Urbanization
•experiencing rapid
urbanization
• Result of oil industry
• Cities becoming modern
• Rural areas continuing
traditional ways
• Nomadic lifestyle
• wander desert and herd
animals
• Farmers farm along riverbanks
and the coast using traditional
tools
3. Cultural Characteristics: Population
•Large % of the population under age
of 15 due to
•Conflict/violence
•Disease
•Hardships associated with the region.
•Poverty, poor sanitation and medical
care
5. Cultural Characteristics: Language
• Multiple languages
spoken
• All but three countries
use the Arabic language.
• Non-Arab countries
• Turkey– Turkish
• Iran– Farsi
• Israel– Hebrew
6. Cultural Characteristics: Religion
• Birthplace to three
major monotheistic
religions:
• Judaism
• Christianity
• Islam
• All three claim similar holy
places
• dominant group has
changed over the years.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/maps/demo.html
7. The Five Pillars of Islam Mini-
Presentation
• You and your group will create a short presentation
about a given Pillar of Islam
• Using PowerPoint your group will need to address
the following for your Pillar:
• Definition
• Details/Examples
• At least 5 pictures
• You have 20 minutes to complete your presentation
• Your groups will present
• Class will complete a note chart
8. Cultural Characteristics: Israel
• Since 1949, the region has been in
conflict over the area known as
PALESTINE.
• This area is present day Israel
• After Holocaust, the state of Israel was
created as a Jewish homeland
• Many Palestinians (Arab Muslims) were
displaced from their homes when Israel
was created
• 1947: UN voted to divide Palestine into
Jewish & Arab states
• Conflict very violent
• terrorism often used
• little progress towards lasting peace
11. What is it?
• Stained Glass
• found in many
Christian
religious
buildings in the
Middle East
12. What is it?
• Geometric tiles
• frequently used in
Islamic architecture
13. What is it?
• Calligraphy
• decorative writing
• Islamic calligraphy is
particularly
distinctive
14. What is it?
• Mosaic
• decoration with small
pieces of colored glass,
stone or other material
that is pieced together to
form a picture, usually of
cultural significance
(religious images, etc.)
15. What is it?
• Prayer Rug
• often elaborately
decorated
• used by Muslims,
placed between
the ground and the
worshipper for
cleanliness during
prayer
16. Cities as Centers of Trade and Culture
• Baghdad
• Capital of Iraq
• built on the banks of the Tigris
River (river is navigable
between Baghdad and Persian
Gulf)
• Center of education, religion,
cultural activity before the
recent violence
17. Cities as Centers of Trade and Culture
• Cairo
• Capital city of Egypt
• Developed on the Nile River Delta
• Near Giza; many ancient Pyramids
can be seen from Cairo
• Cairo Museum displays many
ancient Egyptian artifacts
• major area of trade, highly
respected universities, beautiful
mosques
18. Cities as Centers of Trade and Culture
• Istanbul
• Largest city in Turkey
• straddles the Bosporus Strait
• Strategic location
• important city to control shipping between
the Black Sea and the Mediterranean
• Formerly called Byzantium and
Constantinople
• Includes many famous mosques,
including the Hagia Sophia
19. • Tehran
• Capital city of Iran
• includes many famous mosques
• Center of education and culture in
Iran
Cities as Centers of Trade and Culture
20. • Jerusalem
• Ancient walled city built on a hilltop
• Capital of Israel
• Holy city to the three Abrahamic religions
• Christianity, Judaism, Islam
• City includes
• Western Wall (Judaism)
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Christianity)
• Dome of the Rock (Islam)
Cities as Centers of Trade and Culture
21. Cities as centers of trade and culture
• Mecca
• Holiest city in Islam
• located in Saudi
Arabia
• Site of Muhammad’s
birth
• Kaaba is located here
• Only Muslims are
allowed to enter this
city
