THE ARABIAN PENINSULATURKEY, IRAN AND CYPRUSChapter 23Sections 4 & 5

Arabian Peninsula

Effects of Oil Health and education services are free or

heavily subsidized by the oil-rich government Oil revenue used to build infrastructure – a

country’s basic support facilities, such as schools, roads, airports, and communication systems

Saudi Arabia and Islam Most sacred cities – Mecca and Medina Two million visitors per year for the hajj –

religious journey to Mecca

Arabian Peninsula

Oman and Yemen are different from other countries on the Arabian Peninsula Life for most of the people hasn’t changed

since ancient times Neither country has undergone large-scale

modernization People in both countries still farm and herd

Turkey, Iran, and Cyprus

Challenges faced by Turkey today: Debt, inflation, fighting between secular and

Islamic groups, Kurdish struggle for independence

Iran: Persians are the main cultural group in Iran Most Iranians belong to the Shiite group of

Muslims Cyprus:

4/5 Greek, 1/5 Turkish Civil War in Cyprus was between Greek

Orthodox Christians and Muslim Turks