Chapter Notes 12-1 (N. Africa)

I. Egypt – deserts cover the land and people live within 20 miles of the Nile R. (flow controlled by Aswan Dam)

A. Egypt’s main energy source is oil and phosphates.

B. Poverty and pollution are problems in Cairo and Alexandria.

C. Egypt is a republic with one political party.

D. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

II. Libya - 90% of it is covered by the Sahara Desert. (aquifers)

A. Oil has brought great wealth and money is used for infrastructure.

B. Almost all of the people are mixed Arab and Berber.

C. Once rule by a dictatorship, Muammar al-Qaddafi, now democratic.

III. The Maghreb - region made up of Arab and Berber.

A.Tunisia is North Africa’s smallest country and most live in coastal areas with low rates of poverty.

B.Algeria is North Africa’s largest country. In 1962, Algeria gained independence from France and is a republic.

C.Morocco is the leading producer of phosphates and is a constitutional monarchy.

Chapter Notes 12-2 (SW Asia) Eastern Mediterranean

I. Turkey - it bridges the continents of Asia and Europe.

A.It has the largest population in SW Asia. (70% urban)

B.The largest city, Istanbul is located in 2 continents.

C.It was once the “heart” of the Ottoman Empire.

D.The Kurds have demanded their own independent state (country).

II. Syria - The land consists of fertile coastal plains and valleys.

A.Most live in rural areas and grow cotton and wheat.

B.Damascus (capital) was founded 4,000 years ago as a trading center.

C.It is a one-party government that restricts political freedoms.

III. Lebanon - is half the size of New Jersey.

A.Most people live and work in the capital, Beirut.

B.Fighting between Muslims and Christians has destroyed the country.

IV. Jordan - lacks both water and energy resources.

A. Most work in service/manufacturing industries in Amman. (capital)

B. Most of the people are Arab Muslims.

C.It has a constitutional monarchy led by King Hussein I.

V. Israel – became a Jewish Republic in 1948.

A. It has a developed economy that produces high-tech equipment.

B. Israelis live in farm settlements called kibbutz and moshav.

C. 80% are Jewish and the other 20% are Palestinians (Muslims).

D. There are serious disputes between Israel and Palestinian Arabs.

12-2 Chapter Notes (The Arabian Peninsula)

I. Saudi Arabia - largest country in SW Asia w/ no permanent water.

A.It has 25% of the world’s oil giving them a high standard of living.

B.Riyadh (capital) and Mecca (Islam’s holiest city). Country ruled by a monarchy. (Saud)

II.Persian Gulf Countries: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. (all export oil)

12-2 Chapter Notes (Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan)

I. Iraq - has 2 major rivers: the Tigris and Euphrates (alluvial plain).

A.Muslim Arabs (Shia/Sunni) make up the largest group and the Kurds, want to form their own country.

B.Saddam Hussein was the last dictator to be overthrown by the U.S.

II. Iran - is an oil-rich nation that has limited water supplies

A. Most Iranians are not Arabs, but Persians.

B. Its ruled by a Islamic republic that forbids many western customs.

III. Afghanistan - is a mountainous, landlocked country

A. Khyber Pass is a major trade route through the Hindu Kush Mts.

B. It is made up of many ethnic groups: Pashtuns and Tajiks (main)

C. In October 2001, the U.S. invaded and overthrew the terrorist-supporting Taliban government.