Middle East Patterns

by Held, Colbert C.; Held, Mildred McDonald (COL); Cotter, John V. (CON)

• ISBN13: 9780813341705
• ISBN10: 0813341701
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-28
• Publisher: Westview Pr

Summary

Now in its fourth edition,Middle East Patternscontinues to be the only comprehensive, authoritative geographical study of the region. Colbert Held, a U.S. geographer who experienced firsthand and studied every country during his years of service in the region, has revised and updated his classic work while retaining the basic, well-received framework of past editions. Held examines the Middle East from a topical and then a regional, country-by-country perspective. A thoughtful consideration of the physical environment lays the groundwork for emphasis on cultural-political and geopolitical patterns, which are the essence of the study.Middle East Patternshas been widely commended for its careful balance in analyzing the several geopolitical problems of the area, notably the disputes regarding Israel and Palestine. Richly illustrated with 70 clear maps-virtually all hand drawn exclusively for this book-as well as over 100 photographs,Middle East Patternsnow includes new, post-9/11 history and insight. Held addresses the ramifications of the Iraq war and includes a special new section specifically on terrorism. Students of the region will again welcome this fine resource for their coursework.

Author Biography

Colbert C. Held is Retired Diplomat-in-Residence at Baylor University. He served for fifteen years as a Foreign Service Officer with assignments in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, as well as successive temporary missions in every country in the Middle East.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Illustrations	xi
Preface and Acknowledgments to the Fourth Edition	xix
A Note on Transliteration	xxiii
PART ONE PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
Tricontinental Junction: An Introduction	3	(10)
Middle East Preview	3	(4)
The Middle East: Definition	7	(3)
Regional Unity of Empires	10	(1)
Aims and Concepts: A Glance	11	(1)
Notes	12	(1)
The Face of the Earth	13	(48)
An Overview	13	(1)
Forms of the Lands	13	(12)
Middle East Waters	25	(9)
The Skies and the Winds: Climate	34	(14)
Other Aspects of the Environment	48	(12)
Notes	60	(1)
Patterns of Time: Historical-Geographical Foundations	61	(24)
Persistence of Patterns	61	(2)
Early Patterns	63	(4)
Historical-Political Evolution	67	(14)
Some Inferences: Power Cores	81	(1)
Notes	82	(3)
Patterns of Peoples, Cultures, and Settlements	85	(52)
A Demographic Overview	85	(1)
Patterns: Population	86	(8)
Patterns: Peoples	94	(1)
Patterns: Languages	94	(4)
Patterns: Religions	98	(12)
Patterns: Ethnic Groups	110	(11)
Patterns: Settlements	121	(14)
Notes	135	(2)
The Desert and the Sown: Land Use	137	(22)
Agriculture	137	(6)
Landholdings and Land Reform	143	(1)
Rainfed Crop Farming	144	(4)
Water in the Desert: Irrigation	148	(4)
Role of Animals	152	(4)
Forest Products	156	(1)
Fishing	157	(1)
Notes	157	(2)
Riches Beneath the Earth	159	(30)
A Perspective	159	(1)
Petroleum: Historical Development	160	(5)
Patterns of Reserves	165	(5)
Petroleum Production	170	(4)
Major Oil Facilities	174	(6)
Markets and Marketing	180	(1)
OPEC: Pricing and Participation	181	(2)
Other Minerals	183	(4)
Notes	187	(2)
Manufacturing and Transportation	189	(28)
Preliminary View	189	(2)
Cooperation and Aid	191	(1)
Regional Development Problems	192	(2)
Patterns of Industry	194	(8)
Transportation	202	(10)
Trade	212	(3)
Notes	215	(2)
The Earth and the State: Geopolitics	217	(50)
Hub and Heartland	217	(2)
The State in the Middle East	219	(3)
Peace Treaties and Mandates	222	(1)
Present Basic Patterns	223	(4)
Regional Linkages	227	(2)
Regional Conflicts	229	(7)
The Arab-Israeli Problem	236	(14)
The Iran-Iraq War, 1980--1988	250	(2)
The Gulf Crisis, 1990--1991	252	(2)
``Operation Iraqi Freedom''	254	(1)
Strategic Straits	255	(4)
Great-Power Rivalry	259	(1)
Terrorism	260	(3)
Notes	263	(4)
PART TWO REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY
Syria: Middle East Heartland	267	(24)
Regional Keystone	267	(1)
The Physical Challenge	268	(3)
The Imprint of Time	271	(3)
The Syrian Mixture	274	(3)
Evolving Economic Patterns	277	(7)
Transportation and Trade	284	(1)
Political Geography	285	(4)
Notes	289	(2)
Lebanon and Cyprus: A Mountain and an Island	291	(28)
Lebanon	291	(1)
The Character of Lebanon	291	(1)
Rich Past, Complex Evolution	291	(2)
Lebanon and the Lebanese	293	(3)
A Subregional Perspective	296	(4)
Economic Patterns	300	(5)
Factions and Territories	305	(3)
Cyprus	308	(1)
Historical Geography	308	(5)
Two Mountains, Three Plains	313	(1)
Mediterranean Climate, Mediterranean Crops	313	(1)
Nonagricultural Economy	314	(1)
Relations	315	(1)
Notes	316	(3)
Jordan: The Land Beyond and Between	319	(20)
Historical Evolution	322	(3)
Peoples: Arabs, Minorities, Refugees	325	(2)
Physical Resource Base	327	(4)
Water: The Vital Resource	331	(1)
Economic Geography	332	(3)
Relations	335	(2)
Notes	337	(2)
Israel, Palestine, and Disputed Territories	339	(38)
Israel	339	(1)
Historical Note	339	(1)
Varied Landscapes	340	(4)
Population and Peoples	344	(6)
Settlements	350	(2)
Economic Patterns	352	(6)
Commerce and Services	358	(2)
Relations	360	(4)
Occupied Territories	363	(1)
From West Bank and Gaza to Palestinian Authority	364	(8)
Golan Heights	372	(1)
Notes	373	(4)
Iraq: Modern Mesopotamia	377	(30)
Iraq and Its Antecedents	377	(2)
Regional Patterns	379	(8)
Population and Peoples	387	(5)
Economic Patterns and Problems	392	(7)
Monarchy, Republic, and Uncertainty	399	(2)
Relations	401	(4)
Notes	405	(2)
Saudi Arabia: Development in the Desert	407	(26)
Saudi Arabia: A Preview	407	(1)
Historical-Political Geography	408	(3)
Physical Patterns	411	(5)
Population and Peoples	416	(2)
Settlements	418	(1)
Economic Patterns	419	(10)
Relations	429	(3)
Notes	432	(1)
The Gulf and Its Oil States	433	(38)
An Overview	433	(2)
Kuwait	435	(10)
Bahrain	445	(7)
Qatar	452	(4)
United Arab Emirates	456	(13)
Notes	469	(2)
Oman and Yemen: The Southern Fringe	471	(30)
Oman	471	(13)
Yemen	484	(14)
Notes	498	(3)
Egypt: A River and a People	501	(28)
A View of Egypt	501	(1)
A Rich History	502	(3)
River, Delta, and Deserts	505	(7)
The Egyptians and Their Society	512	(4)
Changing Economic Patterns	516	(9)
Relations	525	(2)
Notes	527	(2)
Turkey: Bridgeland in Anatolia	529	(30)
Between Europe and the Middle East	529	(2)
Complex Regional Patterns	531	(8)
A Historical Tapestry	539	(2)
The Turkish Population	541	(2)
Village and City	543	(1)
Economic Development	544	(10)
Relations	554	(3)
Notes	557	(2)
Iran: Complex Republic on the Plateau	559	(30)
Young State, Ancient Land	559	(2)
Plateau Palimpsest	561	(1)
A Theocratic Republic	562	(2)
A Mountain-Rimmed Plateau	564	(6)
People: Demography and Ethnography	570	(4)
Iranian Economic Patterns	574	(10)
Relations	584	(2)
Notes	586	(3)
Glossary	589	(7)
Geological Time Chart	596	(1)
Bibliography	597	(28)
Index	625