Mike Dowling

A McDonald’s restaurant in Turkey, symbolizing Western cultural influence. Understanding Anti-American Sentiment When terrorists attacked America on September 11, 2001, many Americans were confused, wondering why anyone would hate their nation and its citizens. The answer may partly lie with how America is perceived in many parts of the world. American Influence Around the World … Read more

Photographed for National Geographic in 1984, Sharbat Gula was about 12 years old—roughly the age of many students reading this page. The contrast between her striking green eyes and the weary expression of a child shaped by war made the image an enduring symbol of the Soviet–Afghan conflict and drew global attention to the lives … Read more

Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin after signing the 1979 peace treaty. The Hebrews and Their Homeland The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jews. They lived on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea until 70 CE, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and forced most Jews to leave their homeland. For almost the next two … Read more

President George W. Bush speaks at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were a stark reminder of how vulnerable the world is to terrorist acts. The Global War on Terror is an ongoing campaign by the United States and its allies to prevent international terrorism. Osama bin … Read more

Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq as a dictator from 1979 to 2003. Saddam Hussein was a dictator who fought bloody wars with his neighbors. Saddam was the sole ruler of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. About a year after taking power, Saddam began a bloody war with Iran over border disputes and fears of Iran’s Islamic … Read more

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader (1989–2026). Iran became an Islamic republic after the 1979 revolution. Since then, the country’s religious leadership has enforced strict laws that many Iranians — including some religious Muslims — oppose. Under their rule, elections exist, but all candidates are screened by religious authorities. Women in Iran are required by … Read more

An Afghan woman dressed in a burqa. In many Western governments, particularly the United States, there is a separation between religion and government. Many Muslims believe in Shariah, which means “path” in Arabic. Shariah law tells many devout Muslims what to eat, how to pray, and how to behave in public. Muslims believe the Shariah … Read more

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser became a symbol of Arab nationalism. Most people in the Middle East and North Africa are Arabs, but Arab control of the region began only after the rise of Islam in the seventh century. Ottoman Turks controlled most of the territory until World War I. The British and French replaced … Read more

Modern hotel building in Turkey. About 30 million Kurds share a distinct language and culture. Most are Muslim, and many still live in the mountainous region known as Kurdistan. The Kurds make up at least 10% of the population of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, and slightly less in Syria, with smaller groups in nearby countries. … Read more

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey. Ottoman sultans ruled Turkey for more than 600 years. After World War I, a period of chaos within Turkey ended when a charismatic general named Mustafa Kemal took control. He was named Mustafa at birth and had no surname. As a child, he was nicknamed Kemal by his … Read more

Armenian civilians during the early 1900s. The Armenians have lived on the mountainous land between the Black and Caspian Seas for over 2600 years. Today a modern nation known as Armenia exists, but the Armenian people have been conquered by many other empires throughout their history. King Tiridates III adopted Christianity in 301 CE, making … Read more

The Ottoman Empire was often called the “Sick Man of Europe” as it weakened in the early 1900s. The Rise of the Ottoman Empire In the fourteenth century, a Turkish military leader named Osman defeated other Turkish tribes to become ruler of a small kingdom. A dynasty is a family or group that maintains power … Read more

The World Trade Center towers in New York City during the September 11, 2001, attacks. On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists captured four American airplanes. Suicide pilots guided two planes into the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center, while another was guided into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. The Pentagon … Read more

The Aswan High Dam in southern Egypt. For thousands of years, the Nile River overflowed its banks each year as heavy summer rains in the mountains of East Africa swelled it into a torrent. The annual flooding carried dead and decaying plants in its muddy flow. This nutrient-rich sediment, called silt, created excellent topsoil for … Read more

Ships traveling through the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world. The 120-mile canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The Suez Canal is often called the “crossroads to Europe, Africa, and Asia” because the route is used to transport goods to and from all … Read more

The Dead Sea lies between Israel and Jordan. The Dead Sea is not a sea but a 50-mile-long by 11-mile-wide salt lake between Israel and Jordan. We call it a sea because it is salty like a sea or the ocean. The Lowest Point on Earth The Dead Sea is the lowest body of water … Read more

Oil drilling rig in the Middle East. Petroleum Oil Petroleum is the world’s most important energy resource. Industrialized nations such as the United States depend on petroleum oil for transportation, consumer products, and to power their factories. Developing nations such as China and India require an increasing share of the world’s oil production as their … Read more