Middle EastMiddle East

Egypt

Fast Facts• Loosely defines the area between Northern

Africa & Western Asia• Contains about 15 different countries• The language in most of the countries is

Arabic

• Has a hot, dry climate of mostly desert

• Is the birthplace of the world’s 3 main religions: Judaism, Christianity & Islam

• The main industry centers around oil, which is an abundant natural resource in this area

• The countries of the Middle East have been at war with each other for much of the world’s history

Israel – Shekalim = 26 ¢

Jordan – Dinar = $1.41

Music• Many Moslems only permit vocal music.

The only instruments that might be allowed are drums

• Other Moslems permit instruments as long as they are played with specific types of music

• The best known music is the chant of the singer to call the faithful to prayer from a minaret (tall spire on a Moslem mosque). This is done 5 times a day

The oud is one of the most ancient instruments. Legend says that Adam’s 6th grandson invented it

ClothingVaries depending on country

Thawb = ankle-length garment with long sleeves worn by men

• Abayah long black piece of square fabric that covers the entire body from head to foot except for the face.

• Niqab = veil that covers the face except for the eyes. This is worn, with the abayah, by the most conservative Moslem women

• Hijab scarf that covers the head, hair, ears & neck, but not the face. Most commonly black or white, but may be of any color, plain or decorated. This is worn by most Western Moslem women, usually with modest Western clothing rather than Arab clothing

Animals•Arabian camel

•Arabian oryx

•Saiga antelope

Arabian Camel

• Has one hump (the Bactrian camel has 2 humps, but lives in Asia)

• The hump does not carry water, but is a storage place for fat

• Stands about 7 feet tall at the hump

• Can run up to 40 mph

• Lives for 50-60 years

• Most camels are no longer wild

• They are known as “Ships of the Desert”

• Have been used for transportation, as well as for milk & meat, for 3000-3500 years

• They are the only animal that replaced the wheel for transportation & continued to be the preferred method of transport until the 20th century

• They are able to go without water for a long time because of the following reasons:

– Their red blood cells have an oval shape instead of being round. This helps them slip through the blood vessels more easily when they are dehydrated. This allows them to lose up to 25% of their body weight in water (most other animals can only lose 3-4%)

– Their kidneys & intestines are good at holding onto water so that their urine is like syrup & their feces are so dry that they can be used to make a fire

– Their body temperature fluctuates between 93-106 degrees. They don’t have to sweat until the temperature is over 106 degrees

– Their thick coat reflects the sun & acts like insulation from the heat. Without their coat, they have to sweat a lot more to keep from getting overheated

Arabian Oryx

Saiga Antelope

Food• Olive

• Garlic

• Hummus

• Baklava

• Eggplant

• Tabouli

Olives

• Olive trees are grown all over the Middle East & Mediterranean

• Olive trees can live up to 3000 years• Can’t be eaten until they are soaked

in a special solution• Can be eaten as unripe (green) or

ripe (black)• Olive oil is prized all over the Middle

East

Garlic

Hummus

Baklava

Eggplant

Tabouli

Petra

• An entire city carved out of rock walls• Was the capitol city of the Nabateans• Was the center of the caravan trade

routes• Contains over 800 tombs cut into the

rock• Used ingenious ways to collect & store

water, which made the city able to survive in the desert & created an oasis

• No one knows when the city was built, but it was at least several hundred years B.C. & continued to be inhabited until the earthquake in 362 A.D. destroyed the water system

• Although it was somewhat known to the people of the Middle East during the Middle Ages, it wasn’t rediscovered by outsiders until 1812

Religion - Islam• Began in the 7th century• Believe in one god, Allah• The Qur’an is the holy book, which is

believed to have been given to the prophet, Mohammad by the angel, Gabriel

• Mohammad is believed to be the last of the great prophets, including Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus & others

• Fundamental beliefs:– angels– Scriptures– prophets– Last Day of Judgment

• Duties:– Salat = 5 daily prayers– welfare tax– fasting during the month of Ramadan– pilgrimage to Mecca– profession of faith

• Islam is a religion, but is also law or type of government

• Believe that Allah wants the Islamic form of government to be spread to the whole world, by war (jihad) if necessary

• Believe that Jesus was a prophet, was born without a father, lived a life without sin, was a preacher who performed miracles & was rejected by the people. But they believe that another person died in His place at the cross & that Jesus went to heaven without dying. They don’t believe that He is God’s Son

• Most Moslems believe that Jesus is coming back to judge the earth for 40 years, will kill Satan, will cause all people to convert to Islam or die, then He will die & be buried beside Muhammad.

• Similarities with Christianity:–Only one God–6-day creation–Some beliefs about Jesus are similar

–There is a Judgment Day–Heaven & hell–Angels–Scriptures–Moral values

Citations

www.civilization.ca/cmc/petra/petrae/html, 2006.Demas, Antonia. Food is Elementary. 91-3. 2001.www.ldolphin.org/islam.shtmlMatthew. Former Moslem.www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelwww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijabwww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_musicwww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivewww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra