The People in the Middle East
The people of the Middle East are usually Iranians, Turks, or Arabs; however there are also small sects of Jews and Armenians. People in the Middle East are unique in that they are frequently bilingual. Many people can speak either Turkish, Arabic, or Hebrew, as well as being able to speak English and possibly French. The people of the Middle East are renowned for their religious commitment, as millions of citizens are devout Muslims (majority Sunni). Additionally, many people practice Christianity (particularly in Lebanon), and there is also a robust Jewish population in the state of Israel. While nearly all people of the Middle East were once farmers, many citizens have shifted to the cities in an urban migration. One notable example is Istanbul, Turkey, which has a population of 14.8 million people, nearly twice that of New York City. In terms of character, people are generally very humble and resilient, as they have lived through several life-threatening conflicts. Rich people are typically those who have access to selling oil, and these select few are very extravagant in throwing parties.
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What Makes the Middle East Beautiful? |
The Middle East is one of the most beautiful regions in the world, mostly due to its balance of natural phenomenon with historic landmarks. For example, the Dome of the Rock is one of the most recognizable sites in the world, as people associate it with Jerusalem. Tourists come from around the world to see the Golden Dome, and its brilliant 7th century Islamic architecture. Additionally, the Middle East is home to a couple "Wonders of the World," with a notable one being the city of Petra in Jordan. Tourists flock to see Petra, the former capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, and its beautiful red sandstone infrastructure. In terms of natural beauty, the Middle East showcases the Socotra Archipelago, which are four small islands featuring "some of the world's most stunning landscapes" (Behrooz). Also, the White Desert is a great example of beauty in the Middle East. The Egyptian desert contains unique prehistoric rock formations as well as a night time glow which emanates from the white sand. Clearly, the balance of both historical architecture and natural charm makes the Middle East a beautiful place.
Difficulties and Challenges in the Middle East
Despite its immense beauty, the Middle East has been ripe with difficulties for thousands of years, particularly in the last 50 years. Magnifying the 21st century, Middle Eastern countries have had to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis, as outlined in this project. Bordering countries to Syria, particularly Turkey and Lebanon, have had to accommodate over six million refugees, significantly impacting their economies and political systems. Since 2015, a civil war has also broken out in Yemen, as rebels have blockaded a new government which failed to bring stability following an uprising in 2011. One of the major struggles of the Middle East is its religious diversity as it relates to peace, as many countries resent Israel as the only Jewish and democratic state. Additionally, since a lot of Middle Eastern countries are governed by an autocracy, there are a dearth of civil rights, particularly towards women. In fact, it was only in 2017 that women were allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Finally, connecting to the violence mentioned previously, the Middle East struggles with Islamic terrorism groups such as ISIS and AL-Qaeda. Many ignorant people outside of the Middle East assume that all Muslim (and generally middle eastern) people are terrorists, simply because a few Muslims have recently decided to resort to violence. Many Middle Eastern people are faced with the difficulty of disproving this false narrative.
Sources
Works Cited
Behrooz, Anahit. “The 14 Most Beautiful Places In The Middle East.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip Tourism, 9 Feb. 2017, theculturetrip.com/middle-east/articles/the-14-most-beautiful-places-in-the-middle-east/.
“Ethnic Groups in the Middle East.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_the_Middle_East.
Hubbard, Ben. “Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Sept. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-women-drive.html.
Kublin, Hyman. “Middle East: People.” Scholastic.com, Scholastic Teachers, www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/middle-east-people/.
“Yemen Crisis: Who Is Fighting Whom?” BBC News, BBC, 2 Dec. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423.
Behrooz, Anahit. “The 14 Most Beautiful Places In The Middle East.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip Tourism, 9 Feb. 2017, theculturetrip.com/middle-east/articles/the-14-most-beautiful-places-in-the-middle-east/.
“Ethnic Groups in the Middle East.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_the_Middle_East.
Hubbard, Ben. “Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Sept. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-women-drive.html.
Kublin, Hyman. “Middle East: People.” Scholastic.com, Scholastic Teachers, www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/middle-east-people/.
“Yemen Crisis: Who Is Fighting Whom?” BBC News, BBC, 2 Dec. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423.
Header Borrowed from "Insider Monkey"
https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-places-to-visit-in-lebanon-that-are-safe-and-beautiful-357501/
https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-places-to-visit-in-lebanon-that-are-safe-and-beautiful-357501/