THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHWEST

ASIA, AND CENTRAL ASIAChapter 17

The LandSection 1

Seas and Peninsulas Red Sea Gulf of Aden Arabian Peninsula Persian Gulf Arabian Sea Sinai Peninsula

Dead Sea Black Sea Caspian Sea Aral Sea

Rivers Jordan River Nile River Tigris River Euphrates River

Major Rivers: Cradles of Civilization

Nile Delta 90% of Egypt pop located on 3% of land Alluvial Soil

Mesopotamia – “land between two rivers” Euphrates and Tigris Supported farming for 7,000 YEARS!

Stream Beds Wadis – streambeds that remain dry until

a heavy rain.

Plains, Plateaus, and Mountains

Coastal Plains Fertile land along Mediterranean Sea

Highlands Atlas Mountains – Africa’s longest

mountain range Rain on Northern side Produce barley, wheat, oats Droughts hurt economy

Hejaz and Asir mountain ranges Caucasus Mountains – Mount Ararat Zagros Mountains

Earthquakes Red Sea constantly expanding Turkey and surrounding areas always

experiencing earthquakes

Natural Resources 70% of world’s oil reserves and 33 % of

natural gas is in this area. Economies are dependent on oil!

Minerals Phosphate, chromium, gold, lead, etc.

Climate and VegetationSection 2

Water: A Precious Resource

South Caspian Sea gets 78 inches! In other places, evaporation exceeds

rainfall

Desert Climate Hot and Dry Sahara Desert – largest Desert

Growing! Freezing to mild winters… HOT summers Cold nights Ergs – sandy, dune-covered areas Regs - stony plains with “desert pavement” Hamada – flat, sandstone plateau Oasis – place in desert where underground

water surfaces

Steppe Climate Short grasses to support sheep, goats,

camels Pastoralism – raising and grazing of

livestock

Climate Variations Exports and Tourists

Citrus fruits, olives, grapes in Morocco, Tunisia, and Syria

Tourism in Morocco

Rainfall

The Cultural Geography of the RegionChapter 18

POPULATION PATTERNS

Many Peoples Crossroads for Asia, Africa, and Europe TONS of ethnic diversity – differences

among groups based on their languages, customs, and beliefs

ARABS Most people (275 Million) Most are Muslim – followers of Islam Speak Arabic Mostly came from Arabian Peninsula…but

have spread out

Israelis 6 Million living in Israel 82% are Jews Others are Muslim or Christian Jews trace heritage to Israelites in the land of

Canaan Privileged by God…but moved because of

persecution. 1948 – Israel founded as a Jewish state

Jews and Muslims fought 4 years over this Still fighting to this day, especially for custody

of Jerusalem.

Turks Turkic people migrated around 1000 AD from

central Asia Built Ottoman Empire and ruled eastern

Mediterranean 600 years Most are Islam and speak Turkish

Iranians 66.6 Million in Iran (Persia) Speak Farsi 90% say they are Shiite Muslims

Afghans Practice Islam Speak many languages Mixed backgrounds

Caucasian Peoples 50 different ethnic groups, mostly Armenians

and Georgians Armenia gained independence in 1991. AD 300..most accept Christianity 1915, 1 mill Armenians killed by Ottoman

Turks Republic of Georgia independent in 1991 300 AD…most Georgians also became

Christian

Turkic Peoples Speak Turkic languages and are Muslim Uzbecks are largest Turkic group

Kazakha in Kazakhstan are increasing b/c of birthrate and non-Kazakhs moving out

Tajiks

Kurds Muslim No country of their own Want self-rule, but Turkish and Arab rulers

won’t allow

Population and Resources Water usually determines where people

settle

Control of Vital Resources Border disputed between Israel and Syria over

water

Population Growth Turkey, Egypt, Iran are most populated All populations are growing rapidly Many people have to move to find work

Urbanization Cairo, Egypt Istanbul, Turkey Baghdad, Iraq

All of these places dominate social and cultural life

Many places are growing too fast, no homes, work, etc

Infrastructure – basic urban necessities like streets and utilities

History and GovernmentChapter 18, Section 2

Prehistoric Peoples Hunters and Gatherers Farming developed by around 6,000 BC

along Nile and Mediterranean Sea Domesticated the land

Early Civilizations Mesopotamia

Cultural Hearth – centers where cultures developed and from which ideas and traditions spread outward.

Fertile Crescent Sumerians lived there, had food, cities, etc.

Created Cuneiform Egyptians

Located along Nile River Floods to irrigation Developed hieroglyphics

Empires and Trade Phoenician civilization

Alphabet 500 BC – Persian Empire

Developed qanats – underground canals 100 BC – Silk Road – trade route

connecting China and Mediterranean

Three major ReligionsMonotheism – belief in one God

Judaism Oldest Traced back to ancient Israelites Jerusalem is their capital and religious

center Scattered Long history displayed in Scriptures

Christianity 30 AD – Jesus preaching Believers follow Christ and believe he is

alive Includes Hebrew Bible and New

Testament

Islam Major religion of the region AD 610, revelations of God came to

Muhammad in Mecca He was the last in the line of prophets

(including Abraham and Jesus) 800s – spreading

Worship in mosques Today, 1/5 of world follows Islam

Quran – their holy book

5 pillars of Islam faith: 1.) professing faith in God and the prophet

Muhammad 2.) praying 5 times a day 3.) Helping the poor and needy 4.) Fasting during the 9th month of the Islamic

calendar 5.) Making a pilgrimage to Mecca

The Modern EraCrusades and Mongol Invasions

Land didn’t have many usable resources in the 1800s, Western World had much control

1800s, well educated middle class began developing nationalism

Independence WWI and WWII, Europe lost control of

region More won their freedom in 1991

Arab- Israeli Conflict Israel is not Arab or Muslim Jews persecuted in 1800s and began

going back to Palestine…but under Arab and Ottoman Turk rule

WWI – Britain gained control of Palestine, thus giving it to Jews, but Arabs are mad.

After WWII – Un separates Palestine into sections

Fighting continues ever since

Israelis and Palestinians Since disputes, Palestinian Arabs became

refugees Arabs want West Bank and Gaza Strip 1993 agreement states Palestinians gain

limited self-rule in recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a nation

By 2002, Palestinians staged bombings, and Israeli forces reoccupied West Bank

War in Afghanistan 1990s, radical Muslims took over

Afghanistan October 2001, British and American war

planes begin bombing

Border Conflicts 1990, Iraq invades Kuwait, thus world

passes embargo on Iraq 1991, US forced Iraq out Kurds want a country of their own

Today’s governments Some say they are republics, some have

Presidents, some have monachys, etc.

Cultures and LifestylesChapter 18 section 3

Religion Unifies and Divides people Most say they are Sunni Islam – believe

leadership should be in hands for Islamic community.

Iran and Iraq have Shia/Shiite Muslims – believe only Muhammad’s descendants should lead the Islamic community.

Jews in Israel Christians in Armenia and Georgia

Languages Arabic is the Muslim language…thus most

non-Arab Muslims willing to learn Hebrew in Israel Turkish in Turkey Several others

The Arts Art and Architecture

Ziggurats in Mesopotamia Pyramids in Egypt Palaces in Persia Mosques and palaces express Islamic

architecture Refuse to depict life, so they use shapes

Literature Epics and poetry Very nationalistic Sometimes portrays life

Everyday Life Increased population Close to 1/3 of population is under 15 People moving to cities Bedouins – desert nomads Beginning to travel, have internet, etc.

Home and Community Live in high-rise apartments or in old stone

buildings Families are very close and share midday

meal (their main meal) Bazaar – traditional marketplace

Standards of Living Oil producing countries have a high standard

of living Developing countries such as Egypt and

Afghanistan have poverty.

Education and Health Care Primary school is free Most finish primary and secondary school Some go to college 18 of 28 countries have literacy over 75% 1979, 50% of Iranians could read and write,

but now 79% Health Care much better, but don’t have many

doctors

Celebrations and Leisure Time Muezzin calls for prayer from a minaret 5

times each day

Ramadan (Islam) – holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk

Yom Kippur (Jewish) – solemn holy day with feasting and prayer

Passover, Hanukkah Christmas and Easter

North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central AsiaChapter 19

Living in the RegionSection 1

Meeting Food Needs Saudi Arabia – purchase food with oil

money Afghanistan – grow, but not dependable Israel – grow food for export

Agriculture Arable – suitable for farming

Not much arable land, but many people in farming

Less agriculture in countries with oil Some places along Mediterranean have

good crops, others don’t

Fishing Very important, sardines and mackerel Israel raise fish Size of fish are shrinking because of

overfishing

Industrial Growth Oil products are commodities – economic

goods Holds 70% of world’s oil 33% of world’s natural gas Crude oil, natural gas, petrochemical Helps improve standard of living Coal and copper production

Service Industries Banking, real estate, insurance, etc. 60% of Bahrain’s Gross Domestic Product

(GDP) Tourism is big because of religious and

historical value

Transportation and Communication

Roads, Railroads, and Airlines Many roads connect oil producing cities Roads can be costly in some areas Now using railway and subways

Waterways and pipelines Water transportation Seuz Canal allows ships to go from Med.

To Red Sea

Communications Government has control in many areas Desert affects communication Wireless internet and cell phones more

popular

Two New Silk Roads 1998, world’s longest

telecommunications highway 16,767 miles that follows silk road. Goes through 20 countries

The Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus- Asia (TRACECA) – Moldova to Mongolia

Interdependence