Ancient Middle East, history of the region from prehistoric times to the rise of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other areas.. Evolution of Middle Eastern civilizations. Explore the history of this profitable industry that transformed poor nations in the desert into prosperous and wealthy economies. Ankara’s relations with Egypt deteriorated following the election of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as president of the republic in 2013. Fletcher, Robert, British Imperialism and ‘The Tribal Question’: Desert Administration and Nomadic Societies in the Middle East, 1919-1936, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2015. “We are working on a 4C temperature increase, as we’re now expecting 1C to 2C,” he said. How ‘The Land of the Stars’ Shaped Astronomy (and Me) In the mountains and deserts of the Middle East, the region's role in shaping our modern view of the cosmos quickly comes into focus. Although rock art dating back to 10,000 BC lies hidden amid the desert monoliths of the Jebel Acacus in Libya, little is known about the painters or their nomadic societies, which lived on the outermost rim of the Middle East. Originally founded near a fertile natural oasis, it was established sometime during the third millennium B.C. The pope “spoke with his heart, showing real interest in the Iraqi people. Few wore facemasks, especially during Francis’ stops in northern Iraq on Sunday. President Lyndon Johnson focused much of his energies on his Great Society programs at home and the Vietnam War abroad. This would allow sustainably managed natural vegetation and carbon sequestration. Iraq, considered a regional breadbasket in the 1970s, also lost a significant amount of its farmland to wars and neglect. The OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic was born in 1989 and is regarded as one of the European Tour’s most historic events that has helped to pave the way for golfs presence in the Middle East and create some of the most iconic moments in golf history. DUBAI: More than 3.2 billion people, or two in every five, are affected by land degradation today and up to 143 million could move within their countries by 2050 to escape water scarcity and falling crop productivity caused by climate change. Empires of the Sand: The Struggle for Mastery in the Middle East 1789-1923 by Efraim Karsh & Inari Karsh (Harvard University Press, 1999) Paris 1919 by … Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East Proven practicesThis book of 21 chapters is about the 'how' of desertification control as opposed to an analysis of the 'why' and fills a gap in the desertification-related literature in that it shows what to do in situations ranging from fixing mobile sands to arresting accelerated soil erosion in sloping lands. Learn more about the history of the classification of the region in this article. Middle East Syria From its ancient roots to its recent political instability and the Syrian Civil War, the country has a complex and, at times, tumultuous history. BRITAIN AND THE MIDDLE EAST FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT. Middle East Syria From its ancient roots to its recent political instability and the Syrian Civil War, the country has a complex and, at times, tumultuous history. Nearly two-thirds of the Middle East and North Africa is desert. But if we continue as is, that could stop by 2050. Climate Change, Middle East, Sustainable Development. Some 12,000 years ago, the only place to live along the eastern Sahara Desert was the Nile Valley. Johnson Administration: 1963–1968 . Moreover, it accounts for 65% of the overall population of the GCC countries and 42% of its GDP. For example, dust storms in the Middle East “are becoming more frequent and intense in recent years” because “long-term reductions in rainfall promot[ing] lower soil moisture and vegetative cover”. Ruins of the once-great metropolis and trading center now Sako accompanied the pope throughout the March 5-8 visit, which went off without a hitch despite security worries and a second wave of coronavirus cases in the country. Middle East, the lands around the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing at least the Arabian Peninsula and, by some definitions, Iran, North Africa, and sometimes beyond. “The added issue is that we’re in a hyper-arid environment — plants grow very slowly and climate change worsens the situation. Turkey had shown support to Qatar during regional disputes, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood after Egyptian former President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown in 2013. The Religion of Judaism. Ninety percent of the Arab region of the Middle East lies within arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (Abahussain et al. The human population growth rate is 2.3% annually, which is among the highest worldwide (Abahussain et al. “The Arab world contains around one third of the world’s deserts. The Middle East is also the crossroads of the ancient world. Sako told Vatican Radio: “The mentality here is changing in terms of respect for others, the elimination of violence and fundamentalism.”, He added: “Iraqis are moderate by nature. It will be a real change,” said Sako, adding that Iraqi politicians listened to Francis “with great interest.”. Ancient Middle East, history of the region from prehistoric times to the rise of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other areas.. Evolution of Middle Eastern civilizations. The Middle Eastern desert has been among the regions worst hit by desertification and drought brought on by climate changes ever since the Dark Ages Cold Period (300-700). A few areas, such as the coastal zones of North Africa, Turkey, and the Eastern Mediterranean, receive adequate rainfall to support agriculture. The pontiff and his traveling delegation were to be seen off with a farewell ceremony at the Baghdad airport, from where he will leave for Rome following a four-day papal visit that has covered five provinces across Iraq. “The most vulnerable areas are along the coast of the Mediterranean, including Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Turkey,” she said. “These are all anthropogenic problems,” he said. Desertification is a worldwide phenomenon afflicting countries all over the world. Iraq is in the midst of another wave of the coronavirus, spurred by a new, more infectious strain that first appeared in the UK Authorities in Iraq recorded 4,068 new infections on March 6, according to Health Ministry figures, up significantly from infection rates at the start of the year. Farming has been established for thousands of years in the Middle East, and in the river valleys of ancient Mesopotamia the first true civilization in world history is appearing, that of the Sumerians.. In the Arabian Peninsula, land threatened by desertification ranges from 70 to 90 percent. The wearing of traditional clothing has also been accepted and supported by many Muslim countries. The unarmed observer team is also tasked with verifying the departure of thousands of mercenaries and foreign fighters who have been deployed in the oil-rich North African country and have so far shown no sign of leaving. Director: Denis ... expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey … He freely chose to stay three days here and share their suffering and hope with them,” Sako said. Listening to History of the Middle East on 14 CDs during my work commute kept my attention from start to finish. Through its Near East and North Africa Water Scarcity Initiative, FAO is addressing these issues by supporting a land restoration plan by the Government of Egypt, known as the “1.5 million feddan initiative.” It aims to reclaim up to two million hectares of desert land for agricultural and other use (one feddan is equivalent to 0.42 hectares). This sustainable approach will serve the community and fulfill shading requirements related to outdoor thermal comfort.”. It has become one of the dominant present-day environmental calamities, affecting hundreds of millions of dryland inhabitants and an area estimated between 1,000 to 3,000 million hectares. Last week a group of about 10 observers from the United Nations flew into the capital Tripoli to monitor a cease-fire between the Libya’s two rival armed factions. DUBAI: Libya’s parliament headed to Sirte on Monday ahead of a vote on a new interim unity government for the divided country, a crucial step toward December elections and stability after a decade of violent turmoil. The most populous Middle Eastern countries are Turkey, Egypt, and Iran, each with more than 50 million people. Historic desertification is the study of the desert-forming process from a historic perspective. Apparently, in support of that idea, archaeologists have discovered the fossilized remains of a crocodile right in the middle of the Sahara desert. If approved, it would replace the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, and the eastern-based administration backed by strongman Khalifa Haftar. We don’t have the option to go beyond 1.5C in the future and we’re very close.”, He suggested acting aggressively in legislation to minimize overgrazing, while raising awareness on land management. 1-5 Middle East Facts 1. 3500 BC – beginning of desertification of the Sahara: the shift from a habitable region to a barren desert; 3500 BC – first examples of Sumerian writing in Mesopotamia, in the cities of Uruk and Susa (cuneiform writings) 3500 BC – first cities in Egypt; 3300 BC – Earliest Cuneiform writings The Mars of the Middle East Soak in the vast desert landscape of Wadi Rum, broken only by sandstone pillars and large goat-hair tents of the Bedouin tribes that live nearby. © 2021 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement. The most conservative definition limits the Middle East to the countries bound by Egypt to the West, the Arab Peninsula to the South, and at most Iran to the East. In fact, more than 80 percent of the region is desert that receives less than 25 centimeters of rainfall a year. Desertification is the process of fertile land becoming arid land, and is a results in the loss of habitable and agricultural areas. “Revegetation of a lot of land with native plants in the UAE, such as the Ghaf tree, and Saudi Arabia, with the Samer tree, local to the Gulf, the Andab, a grass-like species, and the Salam and Sidr trees, are promising practices for the recovery of the ecosystem’s health and we should set up protected areas to bring it back to its original status.”, Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have started planting trees. Monitoring desertification will also prove key, much like the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER) in North America, where decades of data have been collected to monitor ecosystems’ health. That day ended with an open-air mass in a stadium that drew nearly 10,000 people. As a result of its arid climate, the Middle East is home to several of the world’s largest deserts. The pope and members of his delegation have been vaccinated but most Iraqis have not. This is partly because it has evolved as one suited to the climate, serving as a protection against heat, dust, and blazing sunshine. Palmyra is an ancient archaeological site located in modern-day Syria. What and where the problem is. The Middle East and North Africa are one of the driest regions on earth. “They include … Saudi Arabia blacklisted the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in May 2014, in a royal decree that outlawed membership of the groups, along with any form of support or sympathy for them expressed “through speech or writing.” Of course, ancient documents and inscriptions clearly show that the Middle East at one time was fertile and verdant, including much of north Africa. History of the Middle East. Cradle of civilisation. Most species … ROME: The visit that Pope Francis paid to Iraq “will leave a great impact on … our country,” said Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Free Presentations in PowerPoint format. I am sure that they will return to their good nature.”, The pope’s visit “will have an impact on political life in terms of peace and stability, also in view of the next elections. In this lesson, learn about oil in the Middle East. It was presumed in the past that the main causes of desertification lay in overuse of the land resulting in impoverishment of the soil, reduced vegetation cover, increased risk of drought and the resulting wind erosion. “This has a severe impact on food security, biodiversity, socio-economic stability and economic development,” said Diana Francis, atmospheric scientist at New York University — Abu Dhabi. Species extinction is one of the most prominent effects of desertification. The Sahara Desert of northern Africa is the largest desert in the world. “The movement is a rotational system and complements the use of resources and water.”, The discovery of oil and rising population wealth led to settlements and sedentarization, adding stress to lands. To date, a third of the world’s land is considered impacted by the phenomenon, excluding natural deserts. Climate change threatens the Middle East and North Africa more than any other region on the planet. And with the report issued this week by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stating that the planet will reach a 1.5C increase in temperatures as early as 2030, leading to extreme drought, food shortage and floods, action must be taken. BAGHDAD: Pope Francis on Monday wrapped up his historic whirlwind tour of Iraq that sought to bring hope to the country’s marginalized Christian minority with a message of coexistence, forgiveness and peace. The problem is most prevalent in areas along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, including Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Turkey. “The situation became more difficult with climate change, as even the resilience of the current ecosystem is threatened,” Belgacem said. Her dissertation will explore Southern California's date industry, booster efforts, and fascination with the Greater Middle East throughout the 20th century. In about 5000 BC a culture known as Al-Ubaid first appeared in Mesopotamia. There are also 18 ski lifts. Terrorism. Dress - Dress - The Middle East from the 6th century: The style of costume worn throughout the Middle East has been remarkably constant for centuries. Such conditions are said to take root in North Africa in the future, should no action be taken. The Middle East has a population of about 246 million, or nearly as many people as the United States. The high antiquity of civilization in the Middle East is largely due to the existence of convenient land bridges and easy sea lanes passable in summer or winter, in dry or wet seasons. I hope to shed light on some of the other connections to the Middle East our desert region has constructed over the past century. However recent projects to regreen deserts have not met with the success envisaged, and cast doubts on this theory. “Desertification not only causes loss of productivity with serious impacts on food production, future food security and economic development but also causes the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, thereby accelerating global warming.”, Decomposition of soil organic matter and biomass during the past 7,800 years caused by land degradation and desertification has resulted in carbon dioxide emissions estimated at 450 to 500 gigatons, equating to more than the total amount of CO2 emitted from fossil fuel combustion so far. The enduring shift from nomadism to more-sedentary organised societies began in the fertile crescent of Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) and the Nile River Valley of Ancient Egypt. They are: When vegetation from fertile land is removed and replace with a large amount of livestock the soil, become arid as it, loses its ability to retain water and nutrients thus not allowing vegetation to grow in the soil. Skiers ride a lift at the Mzaar Ski Resort, one hour from Beirut, Lebanon. “Some desert plants adapt to climate change effects up to a certain degree. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a rich history of support to the nation and its military forces in vital overseas regions. However, even with these risk factors, mismanagement of water resources and unsustainable land practices are rife across the region.”, She used Saudi Arabia as an example of an arid country with no rivers and a daily per capita water use double the European average. With fervent good wishes and prayers for the peace, unity and prosperity of the nation, I invoke upon all the copious blessings of the most High God.”. Of course, ancient documents and inscriptions clearly show that the Middle East at one time was fertile and verdant, including much of north Africa. What is happening in Middle East in 3500BCE. “Desertification in the Middle East is caused mainly by four human actions linked to farming and agriculture,” Francis said. ME ‘n’ OP (Middle East & Oil Politics) The Religion of Islam. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Although rock art dating back to 10,000 BC lies hidden amid the desert monoliths of the Jebel Acacus in Libya, little is known about the painters or their nomadic societies, which lived on the outermost rim of the Middle East.. 2002). Subsidies increasing livestock numbers, coupled with herd mobility and overgrazing, led to further land degradation, loss of biodiversity and desertification. In regions which have climates similar to those of the Middle East, the answer since Roman times to water shortages has been water projects. Desertification in areas where traditional pastoral nomadism was common is a phenomenon of this century. These areas faced desertification long ago and people there have either adapted or have moved out to other areas. It feeds us. Egypt is struggling with economic issues, with security issues we fully understand,” he said. 18 separate countries make up this region: Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Northern Cyprus, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The desert is making a comeback in the Middle East, with fertile lands turning into barren wastes. The added use of intensive agriculture coupled with chemicals, pesticides and salt water, have worsened levels of land productivity. Propaganda Techniques: Desert Storm/Desert Shield. According to The Global Land Outlook of 2017, 45 percent of the food consumed globally comes from the world’s dryland areas and falling productivity, food shortages and water scarcity in these regions is creating insecurity. Apparently, in support of that idea, archaeologists have discovered the fossilized remains of a crocodile right in the middle of the Sahara desert. “Land is worth so much more than the economic value we attach to it,” said Monique Barbut, UNCCD’s executive secretary. Causes - Desertification in the Middle East. ... Middle East; Iraq profile - timeline. The distribution of the population varies widely. An elementary knowledge of the geography both of the Ancient Near East- such as Mesopotamia and Persia- and the modern Middle East will help the reader or listener keep up with Mansfield who writes at breakneck speed. A native of the Coachella Valley, Sarah McCormick Seekatz is a PhD candidate in history at the University of California, Riverside. The high antiquity of civilization in the Middle East is largely due to the existence of convenient land bridges and easy sea lanes passable in summer or winter, in dry or wet seasons. Source: knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu. He added that talks between both countries can help their bilateral relationship and regional issues. “Sand is invading the land,” said Dr. Muhammad Shahid, geneticist in the Plant Genetic Resources Program at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. Science and technology must be used to counter this.”, The Gulf is considered a testbed and a laboratory for extreme weather conditions with a number of institutes working on developing solutions. The Mars of the Middle East Soak in the vast desert landscape of Wadi Rum, broken only by sandstone pillars and large goat-hair tents of the Bedouin tribes that live nearby. A chronology of key events in the history of Iraq, from the time it formed part of the Ottoman Empire to the present. When the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the United States deployed a major joint force as part of a multination coalition to stop … By the end of the century, daytime highs could reach 50°C, with 200 days of exceptional heat every year. “Desertification in the Middle East is caused mainly by four human actions linked to farming and agriculture,” Francis said. ... Mr. Bailey would join their migrations in the southern Israeli Negev desert and the Sinai Peninsula for weeks on camel back. The fertile regions are very densely settled; many others are only lightly populated; while others, particularly in the deserts, are completely empty of human life. The 84-year-old pontiff covered more than 1,400 km inside Iraq, bringing encouragement to its diminished Christian community and extending a hand to Shiite Muslims by meeting top cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani. Desertification is the degradation of arable and productive In an official telegram after leaving Iraqi soil, the pope expressed “once more deep gratitude” to Salih and “the beloved people of Iraq for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me during my stay. Their mobility created a balance in the use of resources — called the hema system — allowing rangeland to rest for some period. “He has delivered a message of comfort and peace that was so powerful … Many Muslims, including some high-ranking local politicians, approached me during the visit and said, ‘You have a treasure, a father so humble, who listens to and loves people’.”. The Middle East is also called the Near East, especially when talking about history. It is a positive narrative of Islamic history fm Mohammad to the end of the Ottoman Empire and the caliphate centered with them. Indirect causes of desertification include poverty, population growth and loss of traditional knowledge so public understanding is important.”, According to Dr. Taoufik Ksiksi, associate professor in biology at the United Arab Emirates University, too many wrong types of animals are overgrazing precious regional land, exposing the soil and increasing erosion by wind or water. An interim three-member presidency council, selected alongside prime minister Dbeibah last month, is to head the new unity administration. Security was tight and most events were strictly controlled. The desert-covered Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the geographically largest country in the Middle East. britain's short-lived middle east empire was a product of economic interests and strategic imperatives.. British involvement in the region long antedated World War I, but Britain's "moment" in the Middle East, as it has been called — the period in which it was the dominant power in much of the area — lasted from 1914 to 1956. Desertification is the process of fertile land becoming arid land, and is a results in the loss of habitable and agricultural areas. Syria president and first lady test positive for COVID-19 - presidency. Being so crowded, prime real estate in the Nile Valley was difficult to … 2002). “They include overgrazing, overcultivating, deforestation and poor irrigation. The Middle East is experiencing its most severe drought in 900 years, according to NASA-- one which is seemingly endless.The drought peaked between 2006 … The soil in these areas is just sand and is completely useless for growing crops or for grazing. “It also affects Iran, Kuwait and the UAE significantly.”, The UN estimates some 50 million people will be displaced over the next decade due to the effects of drought and desertification. Published 3 October 2018. “Egypt is an important country in the Arab world, I mean it still remains the brain of the Arab world, the heart of the Arab world. A desert is land that receives an average of less than ten inches of rain per year. Corps of Engineers organizations have functioned in the Middle East and Africa since the early 1950s with one constant mission – to provide engineering design and construction management services to support U.S. policy and defense objectives overseas. The Geography of the Middle East. The country has been split between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord, based in the capital and backed by Turkey, and an administration in the east supported by strongman Kalifa Haftar, with the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. Statistics estimate global soil degradation by 1 percent annually. “We consider desertification a major environmental problem but, in reality, it’s also economic and social in the region mostly,” said Dr. Azaiez Ouled Belgacem, regional coordinator of the Arabian Peninsula Regional Program at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (Icarda) in Dubai. They have good long root system, so it helps as a wind breaker, as wind is responsible for sand moving from place to place. Desert Fever. If you look at ancient history, every major empire in the region, from the Roman Empire, to the Persian Empire, etc, and even more modern empires like the Byzantine empire, had borders which stretching across ONLY north Africa and into the middle east only a few miles deep because the land was desert if they kept going southward. Middle East - Teachers Guide. “As water is a key component within a desert environment, Masdar has recommended the treatment of greywater within private plots and sole use of treated sewage effluent within the public realm for landscape purposes,” said Peter Spellmeyer, landscape manager at Masdar City. At every turn, Francis urged Iraqis to embrace diversity — from Najaf in the south, where he held a historic face-to-face meeting with powerful Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, to Nineveh to the north, where he met with Christian victims of the Daesh group’s terror and heard their testimonies of survival. This can be seen in the map below, clearly the northern parts of the Middle East have a very high vulnerability to desertification, shown by the red areas, and the lower parts are already dry and almost completely turned into arid land, shown by the dark grey areas. “We’re looking to establish different distributed water points in rangeland, and to close wells each season to have services in other areas for feed and animal health, and to encourage herders to graze in these areas. The Adnanite Arabs, inhabiting the drier desert areas of the Middle East, were all nomadic pastoralists before some began settling in city states, with the geo-linguistic distribution today being divided between Persian Gulf, the Najd and the Hejaz in the Peninsula, as well as the Bedouin areas beyond the Peninsula. It is located at the merging point of three continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia. These are the alarming figures provided this summer by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Persian Gulf states of Bahrain and Qatar have the smallest populations, about 400,000 ea… Middle East Lesson Plans. It extends over 2,000 miles from the Black Sea in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south, and about 1,000 miles from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the mountains of Iran. “Masdar has endorsed a 70 percent minimum use of native and drought adaptive plant species. People gathered in crowds to catch a glimpse of the pope wherever he went, fueling coronavirus concerns. “It defines our way of life and our culture — whether we live in the city or villages. For many people, the Sahara, which spans some 3.32 million square miles (8.6 million square km), is the world’s largest desert; however, one could certainly argue that at 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km), Antarctica—with its plains of ice—could be considered the world’s largest “technical” desert. Prime minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah was elected in February at a UN-sponsored dialogue attended by a cross section of Libyans to steer the country toward the scheduled December 24 polls. There has been a 25% increase in global annual dust emissions between the late nineteenth century to present day.