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Sharia- the basic Islamic legal system derived from the religious ideas of Islam, particularly the Qu’ran Sheikh- an Arab leader, in particular the chief or head of an Arab tribe, family, or village.

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Thursday, February 2, 17 HumanGeographyoftheArabian

Peninsula

Where is the Arabian peninsula region?

History and Government

•  Religion, ethnicity, and shared culture define the region, with most people being ethnic Arabs who practice Islam.

•  For centuries, tribal groups based on family relationships, or sheikdoms, controlled specific areas of the sub region, and their influence continues.

•  Some developed sheikdoms, and some were nomadic like the Bedouins who occupied most of the Arabian Peninsula.

Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula

Population Patterns

•  Despite foreign invasions from the Greek and the Ottoman Empire, the power of the families remained.

•  The majority of governments in the area are monarchies, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar being absolute monarchies.

•  In the interior of Saudi Arabia lies Makkah (Mecca), the holiest city of Islam, Madinah (Medina), which houses the tomb of the prophet Muhammad, and Riyadh, an important oil refining center and the capital.

Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula

Society and Culture Today

•  The peninsula’s desert climate and the prospect of jobs have driven most people to settle in cities along the coast.

•  Once almost exclusively Arab, the population is changing due to immigrant workers attracted to jobs in the oil industry. Often times they are called expatriates which, is a person temporarily or permanently residing, as an immigrant, in a country other than that of their citizenship.

•  Arabic, however, remains the primary language, while English is the most common second language.

Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula

Society and Culture Today Pt. 2

•  Most countries in the Arabian Peninsula have governments that follow traditional Islamic law. In other words, church and state DO NOT separate.

•  Shari’ah, or Islamic law, governs every aspect of a Muslim’s life.

•  Most countries do not enforce equal rights for women, and women have little political power.

Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula

Economic Activities

•  Universal health care is offered in most countries, and education is mandatory for males, but less available for females. Men and women are generally segregated in public, and women often wear an abaya for modesty. (This is changing though)

•  In some countries, the wealth from oil has been used to improve buildings, roads, and schools. Countries with less oil have promoted other economic sectors such as banking, tourism, and finance.

Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula