Middle East Country Comparisons

Literacy RateDeforestationDesertificationSoil DegradationOver GrazingAfghanistanIraqIsraelSaudi Arabia

Words to Know

Literacy Rate-the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and speak

Deforestation-the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land for use such as arable land.

Desertification- is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities. Soil Degradation- removal of fertilizer, nitrogen, and other substances need to grow crops.

Overgrazing- occurs when plants are exposed to livestock grazing for extended periods of time. It reduces the usefulness of the land and is one cause of desertification and erosion.

Describe the ways governments distribute powerUnitary- a form of government in which

power is held by one central authority.Confederation-voluntary associations of

independent states that, to secure some common purpose, agree to certain limitations on their freedom of action and establish some joint machinery of consultation or deliberation.

Federal-a form of government in which power is divided between one central and several regional authorities.

Citizen participation in governmentAutocratic-government in which one person

possesses unlimited power and the citizen has little if any role in the government.

Oligarchic-Government by a few, a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes. The citizen has very limited role.

Democratic-Government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly.

Describe the two predominant forms of democratic governmentsParliamentary-system of government

having the real executive power vested in a cabinet composed of members of the legislature who are individually and collectively responsible to the legislature. May have a Prime Minister elected by the legislature.

Presidential-a system of government in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature.

Graphic Organizer Use this as an example for your notes on each country ---

Middle East Country Comparisons Student Name _____________________

Name of Country Type of GovernmentGDP

Religions Ethnic Groups Literacy Rate

Iran

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts.

Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains;

small, discontinuous plains along both coasts Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,

manganese, zinc, sulfur Land use: arable land: 9.78% permanent crops: 1.29% other: 88.93% (2005) Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes Environment - current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle

emissions, refinery operations, deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Geography: Iran

Life expectancy at birth: 70 yearsEthnic groups: Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and

Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%

Religions: Muslim 98% (Shi'a 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%

Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

Literacy: 77%

People: Iran

Country name: Islamic Republic of Iran Government type: theocratic republic Capital: name: Tehran Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Supreme Leader

Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August 2005).

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (290 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Government: Iran

GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,700 (2006 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30% industry: 25% services: 45% (2001

est.) Unemployment rate: 15% according to the Iranian government (2007 est.) Agriculture – products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts,

cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement

and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Exports – commodities: petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets

Exports – partners: Japan 14.1%, China 12.9%, Turkey 7.3%, Italy 6.3%, South Korea 5.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, Taiwan 4% (2006)

Imports – commodities: industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies

Imports – partners: Germany 12.1%, China 10.6%, UAE 9.4%, South Korea 6.2%, France 5.6%, Italy 5.4%, Russia 4.5% (2006)

Economy: Iran

Graphic OrganizerMiddle East Country Comparisons Student Name _____________________

Name of Country Type of Government GDP

IranTheocratic Republic $8,700

Religions Ethnic Groups Literacy Rate

Muslim 98% (Shi'a 89%, Sunni

9%)Persian 51%, Azeri 24% 77%

Think-Pair-Share

What does it mean when Shia Muslims make up 90%+ of the population in Iran? Is there conflict in the society?

Interactive Notebook Question(Left Side)

Israel

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides.

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central

mountains; Jordan Rift Valley Natural resources: timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas,

phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer;

droughts; periodic earthquakes Environment - current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh

water resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Geography: Israel

Life expectancy at birth: 79Ethnic groups: Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born

67.1%, Europe/America-born 22.6%, Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) (2004)

Religions: Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy: 97.1%

People: Israel

Government type: parliamentary democracy Capital: name: Jerusalem Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Shimon PERES

(since 15 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Ehud OLMERT (since May 2006); Ehud OLMERT won the right to lead the government when his Kadima Party won 29 seats in elections held on 28 March 2006 Legislative branch: unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee - made up of all three branches of the government; mandatory retirement age is 70)

Government: Israel

GDP - per capita (PPP): $26,800 (2006 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.3% (30 September 2006) Agriculture – products: citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy

products Industries: high-technology projects (including aviation, communications,

computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles, footwear

Exports – commodities: machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Exports – partners: US 38.4%, Belgium 6.5%, Hong Kong 5.9% (2006) Imports: $47.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) Imports – commodities: raw materials, military equipment, investment

goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods Imports – partners: US 12.4%, Belgium 8.2%, Germany 6.7%, Switzerland

5.9%, UK 5.1%, China 5.1% (2006)

Economy: Israel

Graphic Organizer Use this as an example for your notes on each country ---

Middle East Country ComparisonsStudent Name _____________________

Name of Country Type of Government GDP

Israel parliamentary

democracy $26,800 Religions Ethnic Groups Literacy Rate

Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%,

Arab Christians 1.7%

Jewish 76.4% non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) 97.1%

Think-Pair-Share

What does the Literacy Rate for Israel mean for their economy?

Interactive Notebook Question(Left Side)

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula

Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremesTerrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copperNatural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of

underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Geography: Saudi Arabia

Life expectancy at birth: 75 yearsEthnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%Religions: Muslim 100% Languages: Arabic Literacy: 78.8%

People: Saudi Arabia

Country name: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Government type: monarchy Capital: name: Riyadh Suffrage: 21 years of age; maleExecutive branch: chief of state: King and

Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: Consultative Council (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms).

Government: Saudi Arabia

GDP - per capita (PPP): $13,600 (2006 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63%

(1999 est.) Unemployment rate: 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some

estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.) Agriculture – products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus;

mutton, chickens, eggs, milk Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals;

ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics; metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction

Exports – commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90% Exports – partners: Japan 17.6%, US 15.8%, South Korea 9.6%, China 7.2%,

Singapore 4.4%, Taiwan 4.4% (2006) Imports – commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals,

motor vehicles, textiles Imports – partners: US 12.2%, Germany 8.5%, China 7.9%, Japan 7.2%, UK

4.8%, Italy 4.8% (2006)

Economy: Saudi Arabia

Graphic OrganizerMiddle East Country Comparisons

Student Name _____________________

Name of Country Type of Government GDP

Saudi Arabia monarchy $13,600

Religions Ethnic Groups Literacy Rate

Islam : Arab 90%, Afro-

Asian 10% 78.8

Is Saudi Arabia an oligarchy or monarchy?

How would their natural resources impact their economy?

Interactive Notebook Question(Left Side)

Turkey

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks.”

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van Environment

current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Geography

Population: 71,158,647 (July 2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.88 years Turkish Ethnic groups: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated) Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian Literacy: definition: 87.4%

People

Country name: Republic of Turkey Government type: republican parliamentary democracy Capital: name: Ankara Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ahmet

Necdet SEZER (since 16 May 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March 2003)

Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Government   

GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,000 (2006 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 35.9%

industry: 22.8% services: 41.2%Unemployment rate: 10.2%Population below poverty line: 20% (2002)Agriculture – products: tobacco, cotton, grain,

olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestockIndustries: textiles, food processing, autos,

electronics, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Economy - overview: Turkey

Graphic Organizer Use this as an example for your notes on each country ---

Middle East Country ComparisonsStudent Name _____________________

Name of Country Type of Government GDP

Turkey

republican parliamentary democracy $9,000

Religions Ethnic Groups Literacy Rate

Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni)

Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% 87.4

3-2-1

List three countries that have Parliamentary Governments

List the two highest GDP countriesWhich country is led by Hamid KARZAI

Interactive Notebook Question(Left Side)

Draw an Economic Continuum line on the Left Side of your Notebook with Market on one side and Command on the other:

MarketCommand

For each of the following questions, name the type of Economy and place the name of the Country on your Economic Continuum

Name the Type of Economy

1. Israel has a mixed economy that is also technologically advanced.  The Israeli government and private Israeli companies own and control the economy equally…

2. Saudi Arabia also has a mixed economy.  The government largely controls the main export oil.  Oil accounts for well over half of the country’s economy.

3. The government of Turkey controls the country’s economy.  Only a few companies are privately owned.

Name the Type of Economy…

Economic Continuum line

MarketCommand

Israel Saudi Arabia

Turkey

1. Israel=Mixed2. Saudi Arabia=Mixed/Command3. Turkey=Command

Name the Type of Economy

Central Intelligence Agency, World Fact Book. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html 092707

Bibliography