NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHWEST ASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

WHAT MAKES THIS A REGION?I. Deserts and MountainsII. Population that

practices one of the three major monotheistic religions

III. Possession of more than half of the worlds known oil reserves

IV. A need for freshwater resources

V. A history of external cultural influences

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Tectonic activity responsible for shaping

landscape 4 tectonic plates converge in this region Shifting plates have built mountains and

frequently cause earthquakes Atlas mountains are found in North Africa Precipitation on northern side of mountains

makes this an agriculturally productive region

Along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula two mountain ranges, Hejaz and Asir,

Asir region the most agriculturally productive region in Southwest Asia

Caucus Mountains are found between the Caspian and Black Seas

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Coastal Plains are the most fertile

regions and support agriculture Major peninsulas- Arabian, Sinai,

Anatolian Landlocked bodies of saltwater are

found in the region Caspian Sea- largest inland body of

water on Earth Dead Sea on the border of Israel and

Jordan is at the mouth of the Jordan River

Aral Sea in Central Asia 1960’s fourth largest body of water in

the world Dried up in the 1970’s to present

because of water used for irrigation to grow cotton, split the sea north and south

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Water Systems Region lacks abundant water

resources and rivers have always been important and affected development

Nile River fertile land along river home to one of the worlds earliest civilizations

90% of population lives in Nile River delta (3% of Egypt’s land)

Aswan High Dam on Nile provides hydroelectric power and water for agriculture

Tigris- Euphrates valley in Southwest Asia was a cradle of civilization

Today dams provide water for agriculture and hydroelectric power for Syria, Iraq and Turkey

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Oil and natural gas are the

most important natural resources in the region

Region contains over 60% of the know world oil reserves

Oil exports have enriched the region

Economy can rise or sink because of fluctuation in world oil markets

Many countries in the region are trying to diversify their economies away from reliance on oil exports

CLIMATE Water scarcity affects the regions

climate Deserts cover more than 50% of

the region Sahara Desert largest desert in

the world, covers North Africa Weather patterns in deserts are

extreme, cold nights and long hot summers

Rub al-Khali in Saudi Arabia largest area of sand in the world

Some nomadic herding and small scale farming is possible in oasis regions

Villages develop around oases

CLIMATE Steppe is the second

largest climate region Supports livestock grazing Mediterranean climates

are found in coastal areas Countries rely on

Mediterranean climates to export citrus fruits, olives to Europe and North America

These regions also benefit from tourism

CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY

NORTH AFRICA Indigenous cultures of North Africa

have mixed with Arab and European cultures

Spanish, French, Roman, Jewish and Muslim cultures have influenced the region

European influence mainly in coastal North Arica (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia)

Primary cultural mixture is Arab and indigenous cultures

Arab invaders mixed with native Berber people

Berbers exist today as farmers and pastoral nomads

Arabs migrated to the region around 600

NORTH AFRICA Availability of water has influenced

settlement Most people settled along seacoasts and

river deltas Cairo, Egypt is one of the most densely

populated cities on the planet

NORTH AFRICA Location near Europe and Southwest Asia has made the region

vulnerable to invasion over the centuries Regions farmers were among the first in the world to domesticate

plants and animals One of the world first great civilizations developed in the Nile River

Valley In the 600’s Arab invasions and heavily influenced cultures of the

region The Arabs brought their language, architecture and Islam European colonial influence in the 1800’s helped develop the

regions geometric boundaries

NORTH AFRICA Egypt gained independence in 1922 from

Great Britain Typically pro- Western in their views, country

has a large military Their control of the Suez canal has made it a

key regional power Egypt is also a center of Arab nationalism Algeria gained independence from France in

1962 They have developed their natural resources

(oil) and raised their standard of living Libya gained independence from Italy in 1951 Since 1969 they have been ruled by a military

dictator Muammar Kaddafi (until last year) Morocco and Tunisia gained independence

from France in 1956

NORTH AFRICA Most people in North Africa

practice Islam Most share the Arabic

language Literacy rates range widely

from 52% in Morocco to 82% in Libya

Health care is government run in most countries, with urban areas receiving better health care than rural areas

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Countries in the region include: Israel, Jordan,

Syria, Lebanon Dry desert climate of the region causes

majority of population to live along coasts and Euphrates River Valley

Parts of region have highest population densities in the region

Eastern Mediterranean is 75% urban People from over 100 countries have settled

in Israel, makes an ethnically diverse country

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Region is inhabited by Jews and Arabs Most Jews live in Israel Trace heritage to region that is today Israel

and Lebanon Invasions led to exile and persecution, forced

many Jews to relocate to different countries 1948 Israel founded as an independent Jewish

state Arabs in region did not want Jewish state that

had been their homeland for centuries, brought a series of six wars to the region sine 1948

Palestinians are the Arab people that live where Israel is today

Many have been displaced from their homes and have been forced to become refugees

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Three major religions began in

region Judaism, Christianity, and Islam All three share similar beliefs,

especially monotheism Judaism is the oldest of the

monotheistic faiths Christianity was founded in the

land of Israel in AD 30 Islamic tradition began on

nearby Arabian peninsula and spread to the region by AD 700

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Jews in the late 1800’s called Zionists , called

for a return to Palestine and the foundation of a Jewish state

After WWII the UN divided Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state

1948 Jews proclaim the independent state of Israel

Series of wars occurred over the next 50 years and caused many Palestinians to become refugees

Many Palestinians today live in Israeli controlled settlements in Israel

Palestinians want an independent state of their own

Israel agreed to give the Palestinians some self rule in the 1990’s, but have since changed their position

The militant Palestinians group Hamas has supported attacks on Israeli territory

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN Most people in are Muslim Large groups of Christians live in Syria and

Lebanon Hebrew is spoken in Israel, while other countries

speak Arabic Literacy rates vary from 76% in Syria to 96% in

Israel