Middle EastMiddle East Society and Culture Society and Culture

Mr. TopinkaMr. Topinka

RTR High SchoolRTR High School

Where Continents MeetWhere Continents Meet

• The Middle East is The Middle East is not a geographical not a geographical region, like Africa, region, like Africa, Asia, or Europe.Asia, or Europe.

• Geographically, it Geographically, it denotes an area in denotes an area in which Africa, Asia, which Africa, Asia, and Europe and Europe interconnect.interconnect.

• Terrible Geography Song Clip

Soft and Shifting Soft and Shifting BoundariesBoundaries

• There are no natural There are no natural borders that borders that delineate the delineate the boundaries of the boundaries of the Middle East.Middle East.

• Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Turkey, North Africa Turkey, North Africa are disputed parts of are disputed parts of the region.the region.

The Middle EastThe Middle East

• In fact the In fact the boundaries of the boundaries of the Middle East are Middle East are political, and they political, and they keep shifting keep shifting overtime.overtime.

• Islam is the Islam is the common thread that common thread that join Middle Eastern join Middle Eastern Country togetherCountry together

ISLAMISLAMJohnny Greene Intro to Islam Clip

Islam and MuslimsIslam and Muslims

• The world of Islam is as diverse as the The world of Islam is as diverse as the world of Christianity.world of Christianity.

• Islam is experienced differently across Islam is experienced differently across cultures. In the words of a contemporary cultures. In the words of a contemporary scholar of Islam: “Islam is like a river in scholar of Islam: “Islam is like a river in that it takes its color from the cultural bed that it takes its color from the cultural bed it flows through.” it flows through.”

Who are the Muslims?Who are the Muslims?

Individuals who completely and Individuals who completely and peacefully submit to the will of peacefully submit to the will of God, believe in the Articles of God, believe in the Articles of Faith and practices the Five Faith and practices the Five Pillars of Islam.Pillars of Islam.

Muslims constitute 1/5 of world Muslims constitute 1/5 of world population, about 1.4 billion, and population, about 1.4 billion, and form the majority in 40 countries.form the majority in 40 countries.

Prophet MuhammadProphet Muhammad

Born in Makkah (Mecca) in Born in Makkah (Mecca) in the year 570 (CE).the year 570 (CE).

Said to have received his Said to have received his first revelation from God at first revelation from God at the age of forty, while the age of forty, while engaged in a meditative engaged in a meditative retreat, through Archangel retreat, through Archangel Gabriel.Gabriel.

Revelations continued for Revelations continued for twenty-three years, and are twenty-three years, and are recorded in the Qur’an.recorded in the Qur’an.

Qur’anQur’an

The Qur’an is the record The Qur’an is the record of the words of God of the words of God revealed to Prophet revealed to Prophet Muhammad in Arabic Muhammad in Arabic through Archangel through Archangel Gabriel. This revelation Gabriel. This revelation came in phases and came in phases and continued for twenty-three continued for twenty-three years.years.

Qur’an is the primary source of Qur’an is the primary source of Islamic guidanceIslamic guidance..

The Five Pillars of IslamThe Five Pillars of IslamIslam is built on five pillars, the first of which is a Islam is built on five pillars, the first of which is a statement of faith. The other four are major statement of faith. The other four are major exercises of faithexercises of faith

Declaration of Faith (Shahadah).Declaration of Faith (Shahadah).

Obligatory Charity (Zakah)Obligatory Charity (Zakah)

The Pilgrimage (Hajj)The Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Prayer (Salah)Prayer (Salah)

Fasting (Siyam)Fasting (Siyam)

Hajj

Mecca

HistoryHistory

The Expansion of IslamThe Expansion of Islam

Islamic CivilizationIslamic Civilization

▲ Alhambra Palace, Granada 715

▲ Umayyad Mosque, Damascus 705

Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, built 1602 ▼

Islamic CivilizationIslamic Civilization◄ Cordova University (Cordova 786)

Al Azhar University ► (Cairo

972)

The Blue Mosque(Istanbul 1603)

▼

Social Mobility for AllSocial Mobility for All

Moses Maimonides Moses Maimonides (1135-1204)(1135-1204)The foremost intellectual figure of medieval The foremost intellectual figure of medieval Judaism, was born Moses ben Maimon in Cordoba, Judaism, was born Moses ben Maimon in Cordoba, Spain to an educated, distinguished family. Spain to an educated, distinguished family. Maimonides began his study of medicine in Fez, Maimonides began his study of medicine in Fez, Morocco, and later moved to Cairo, Egypt. Soon Morocco, and later moved to Cairo, Egypt. Soon after their arrival Maimonides' father and brother after their arrival Maimonides' father and brother died, and Maimonides began to practice medicine died, and Maimonides began to practice medicine to support his family. His fame as a physician to support his family. His fame as a physician spread, and he soon became the court physician spread, and he soon became the court physician for Sultan Saladin and his family. Maimonides also for Sultan Saladin and his family. Maimonides also lectured at the local hospital, maintained a private lectured at the local hospital, maintained a private practice, and was a leader in the Jewish practice, and was a leader in the Jewish community.community.

The CrusadesThe Crusades• A series of four A series of four

campaigns between 1096 campaigns between 1096 and 1270 urged by the and 1270 urged by the Pope for recapturing Pope for recapturing Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

• The Crusaders controlled The Crusaders controlled a long strip of land along a long strip of land along the Mediterranean (50 the Mediterranean (50 miles wide and 500 long)miles wide and 500 long)

• The fourth Crusade led to The fourth Crusade led to the sacking of the sacking of Constantinople, and the Constantinople, and the weakening of the weakening of the Byzantine Empire.Byzantine Empire.

Stopped 7th and 8th Hour

The CrusadesThe Crusades

Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire

• Communal politics – Communal politics – The The MilletMillet System. System.

• Limited governmentLimited government• Strong civil society – Strong civil society –

civil society civil society institutions funded institutions funded by foundations.by foundations.

• Law enacted by civil Law enacted by civil society.society.

Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire

Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire Dismemberment Dismemberment

• The modernization of The modernization of the Ottoman Empire.the Ottoman Empire.

• Turkification of the Turkification of the Empire.Empire.

• Centralization of Centralization of political authority.political authority.

• Arab revolt and the Arab revolt and the Sykes-Picot Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916.Agreement 1916.

• CC Ottoman Empire Clip

ColonialismColonialismStopped 7th Hour

SOCIETYSOCIETY

Continuity and ChangeContinuity and Change• Middle Eastern society has been in a state of flux Middle Eastern society has been in a state of flux

for over a century, searching for a new direction for over a century, searching for a new direction and identity, and experiencing a great deal of and identity, and experiencing a great deal of tension as rivaling forces compete for its future.tension as rivaling forces compete for its future.

• The most pronounced tension is between The most pronounced tension is between modernity and tradition, that increasingly takes modernity and tradition, that increasingly takes the form of struggle between Islam and the form of struggle between Islam and modernity.modernity.

• Islam is viewed by many Muslims not simply as a Islam is viewed by many Muslims not simply as a religion, but also as a cultural identity and religion, but also as a cultural identity and heritage.heritage.

• While cultures and traditions vary markedly, the While cultures and traditions vary markedly, the following qualities are often shared by M.E. following qualities are often shared by M.E. Culture.Culture.

Middle Eastern CultureMiddle Eastern Culture• Honor (self-respect to self-pride) and Honor (self-respect to self-pride) and

expectation of equal treatment regardless expectation of equal treatment regardless of wealth, position, or rank.of wealth, position, or rank.

• Fierce sense of independence and Fierce sense of independence and resentment of imposed rules or decisions resentment of imposed rules or decisions not sanctioned by social norms and not sanctioned by social norms and customs.customs.

• Strong loyalty to extended family, friends, Strong loyalty to extended family, friends, and locality, and a great expectation of and locality, and a great expectation of solidarity.solidarity.

• Hospitality to guests and visitors.Hospitality to guests and visitors.

Family RoleFamily Role

• Family is often inclusive of cousinsFamily is often inclusive of cousins• Family loyalty and obligation is Family loyalty and obligation is

paramountparamount• Family is seen as a person’s ultimate Family is seen as a person’s ultimate

refuge and support systemrefuge and support system• Children are taught profound respect for Children are taught profound respect for

adultsadults

Men and WomenMen and Women• The public display of intimacy between men The public display of intimacy between men

and women is considered offensive.and women is considered offensive.• This code also applies to husbands and This code also applies to husbands and

wives wives • The maintenance of family honor is one of The maintenance of family honor is one of

the highest values.the highest values.• In Middle Eastern cultures, promiscuous In Middle Eastern cultures, promiscuous

behavior can be more damaging to family behavior can be more damaging to family honor.honor.

• Most Middle Easterners still prefer arranged Most Middle Easterners still prefer arranged marriage. The family always plays a major marriage. The family always plays a major role in the decision of any member to wed.role in the decision of any member to wed.

Traditional Cites Traditional Cites

Narrow Allies, Plain External Design

Traditional CitiesTraditional Cities

• PrivacyPrivacy• Open space is located within the traditional house.Open space is located within the traditional house.• All Houses look alike form outside – no decoration.All Houses look alike form outside – no decoration.• Court yard is located inside the house.Court yard is located inside the house.

Traditional CitiesTraditional Cities

▲ Umayyad Mosque built 705-715 AD.

◄ Suq (Shopping Mall) Al-Hamiddiyyah.

Modern CitiesModern Cities

Modern Dubai Modern Cairo

• Multi-Story apartment buildings is the new residential pattern.

Middle Eastern WomenMiddle Eastern Women

Middle Eastern WomenMiddle Eastern Women

Status of WomenStatus of Women

• Statements on women’s status vary in Statements on women’s status vary in applicability depending on the country involved. applicability depending on the country involved. For instance, in Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, For instance, in Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, educated women have been very active and Egypt, educated women have been very active at all levels of society.at all levels of society.

• In the Persian Gulf States, most women do not In the Persian Gulf States, most women do not work. Those who do, work only in all-female work. Those who do, work only in all-female environments such as schools and banks for environments such as schools and banks for women, except those in the medical professionwomen, except those in the medical profession

• Traditionally-oriented men and women don’t see Traditionally-oriented men and women don’t see prevailing customs as restrictions-rather as prevailing customs as restrictions-rather as protectionsprotections

Women Social Women Social ParticipationParticipation

• Traditional Muslim societies are Traditional Muslim societies are patriarchic.patriarchic.

• Modern Influence and Muslim feminismModern Influence and Muslim feminism