Middle+East

Partner: Jay Ghil Government, education, conclusion Hijo Byeun Trading, religion, Introduction

World History.

Middle East: Egypt, Iran, Palestine Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Iraq Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon Oman



Introduction

Middle East is where the first human civilization had started such as Mesopotamia, the land between two rivers. Even during this era, Mesopotamia is considered exposed to outsiders. Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian are all from different origin. By analyzing this fact, we can comprehend that there were a lot of nomads or even empire that crossed the Middle East. Middle East is basically middle of the Eurasia continent. In my opinion, the fact that many different tribes had dominated Mesopotamia made me to connect with how the middle East flourished by trading system during or before 13th century. Although there hundred of time differences, how the human acted didn’t really changed much. Anyhow, I believe that Middle East was able to gain strength because of their geographical location. These became the base of the force that Middle East had during modern world. Also the most important impact that they made is their religion, Islam. Islam, started in Saudi Arabian Peninsula, influenced to many religions such as Christianity, Buddhism. They had many education based on Islam. Also in Saudi Arabia they had an monarchy government.

Trading

Middle East became to have several major trading cities. This was possible because of where they were located. If. Asians or Indian merchants wanted to go to Europe overland around 13th century, they had to cross, at least a small portion of Middle East countries. Silk road can be a superior example of trading routes. Silk road had led to China, to Byzantium where now Anatolia is. This is the road where religions had spread including spices, silk textiles gunpowder. Trading system didn’t just help people to get materials form different part of the world but they brought wealth to nobles, kings and merchants. In other worlds major trading cities were able to easily flourish. What stimulated the trading system more was the new banking system in Arabian Peninsula. The bank not only lend money to merchants but also exchanged the currencies and provided similar to what the broker for investment. For instance, they invented “Sakk” known as “Check” in our term. This facilitated the merchants especially. Also there was Islamic law that enhanced the trading system by offering a business organization. On maritime trade, monsoon, using the wind that coming form northeast to southwest, had developed like the overland did. All of these had helped the Middle East to flourish. However, they weren’t the most influential and inspired countries during modern world. During modern Era, it was western European that became authoritative and dominant power. They were able to gain power from Mediterranean trade, competition with other tribes and their developed government. During Modern world, the western European already started to conquer empires such as Aztec or Maya.

Religion

Islam was one of the most potent religions during history. Mecca, located in west of Arabian Peninsula, was the birth of Islam religion. Muhammad, who calls himself the last prophet, was the one who actually started the expansion of Islamic empire. The empire expanded to N. Africa, Iberian Peninsula, china and portion of India. This spread helped people to notify the Islamic culture and the religion. Also many merchants helped to spread Islamic religion. The spread of Islam helped Arabian to expand their territory. In other words, they were able to gain a lot of strength by their religion. People from different part of the land devoted their lives. However, during this era, there were various religions that led the conflict between Christianity and Islam. After the Germanic tribe had conquered the Iberian Peninsula with Christianity, they were some conflict made with Christianity and Islam on southern Spain (now). On Iberian Peninsula, Christian wanted the expansion of Christianity through out the world. However, Moors, who are the Muslims, was basically blocking their expansion. Nonetheless the result was that Christian was able to demolish the Muslims on Iberian Peninsula. Unfortunately for the Muslims, their strengths were weakening. This was the one of the step toward weakening of Islamic world. They had lost the battle between two religions. Although they lose their strength, Islam effected what people believe in. Islam didn’t really get to expand their religion fully through out the world, but they had successfully impact their religions throughout the world.

Saudi Arabia Education When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded, education had not been accessible to everyone and limited only to instruction at religious schools in urban areas. These schools taught Islamic law and basic literacy skills. By the end of the century, Saudi Arabia had a nationwide educational system providing free training from preschool to university to all citizens. The modern day educational system provides quality instruction in diverse fields of modern and traditional arts and science. Today, Saudi Arabia’s nationwide public educational system comprises twenty universities, 24,000 schools, and a large number of colleges. This system provides students with free education, books, and health services and is open to every Saudi. The kingdom has also worked on scholarship programs so they can send students overseas to US, Canada, France, UK, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and other nations. Currently, thousands of students are being sent to higher- educations programs every year. The study of Islam, however, remains at the core of the Saudi educational system. There were reports that in religious education classes, children are taught to deprecate other religions, in addition to other branches of Islam. The Saudi religious studies curriculum is taught outside of the Kingdom throughout the world.

Saudi Arabia’s Government The central institution of the Saudi Arabian government is the Saudi monarchy. The Basic law of Government adopted in 1922 declared that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king. It is also governed by the basis of the Shari’ a, which is the Islamic law. The Saudi government is the ninth most authoritarian regimen in the world. The king’s powers are limited within the bounds of Shari’ a and other Saudi traditions. The king must retain a consensus of the Saudi royal family, religious leaders, and other important elements in Saudi society. The Saudi government spreads Islam by funding construction of mosques and Qur’ an schools around the world. The Saudi kings gradually developed a central government by 1953. The Council of Ministers, who was appointed by the king, advised on the formulation of general policy and directed the activities of the growing bureaucracy. The council consists of a prime minister and twenty ministers. The legislation is by the resolution of the Council of Ministers. It is ratified by the royal decree and had to be compatible with the Shari’ a. The king appointed a Consultative Assembly, containing 150 members. The Consultative Assembly has limited legislative rights. Justice is administered according to the Shari’ a by a system of religious courts whose judges were appointed by the king. There are twelve senior jurists in all. The law protects Independence of the judiciary. The king acts as the highest court of appeal and has the power to pardon. The Basic Law, in 1992, declared that Saudi Arabia was a monarchy ruled by the king. Also, it declared that the Qur’ an as the constitution of the country, governed on the basis of Islamic law. Any criminal cases are to be tried under the Sharia courts in the country. These courts exercise authority over the entire population including foreigners. The crimes involving small penalties were tried in Shari’ a summary courts while more serious crimes are adjudicated in Shari’ courts of common pleas.

Conclusion In conclusion, even though the Middle East wasn’t really a powerful country, they influenced the world just the same with their religion, trade, and their resources. The Middle East did not control people, but it controlled what people thought. They would think differently after learning Middle East’s culture and traditions. So to wrap it, Middle East strongly influenced the world just the same as any other countries.

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