Geog597.01:Greater Middle East Outline

Greater Middle East General Characteristics -Rapid rates of urban population growth -Fairly high levels of urbanization for LDCs -Great variation from country to country within the region Culture Hearths -Mesopotamia - Present-day Iraq -Nile River Valley - Present-day Egypt Some Major Influences -Greeks and Romans -Islam -Mohammed lived 571-632 C.E. -founded Islam in early 600s C.E. 	-was a unifying influence in the region -Ottoman Empire -Islamic, Turkish empire centered in Istanbul -powerful in 1500s -began to lose power in 1700s, severe loss of power in 1800s -official ending of the Empire came with World War I. -Europeans -As the Ottoman Empire crumbled, Europeans gained control of former Ottoman holdings Classic N. African/Middle Eastern City (see article Middle Eastern city structures)

Modern Era

-Dual Cities -Impact of oil -Primate Cities Problems -overcrowding -large gap between rich and poor within countries -uneven development between countries within the region -political instability -religious fundamentalism -Israel