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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 (change since 2010) 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 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 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
Many people live in urban areas, Eastern Mediterranean is 75% urban
People from over 100 countries have settled in Israel, makes an ethnically diverse country
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
IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEYEthnic Populations Turks- migrated from Central Asia Eventually became known as the Ottomans and ruled
the region for 600 years Most Turks practice Sunni Islam Iranians- migrated from Central Asia Speak Farsi 90% practice Shia branch of Islam Arabs- majority of people in Iraq Most are Shia Muslims Arabic is the most commonly spoken language Kurds- live in mountainous border area of Turkey and
Iraq Most are Sunni Muslims Speak Kurdish and have different customs than Arabs
of the region Have no country of their own Efforts at self rule have been repeatedly crushed by
Turkish and Arab rulers
IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEY Most populous countries are
Iran and Turkey Most live in cities Istanbul and Tehran dominate
social and cultural life in their countries
Cities have had problems because of many villagers looking for opportunity
Government of Iran has relocated people to the countryside to relieve overcrowding
IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEY Mesopotamia was one of the world’s first cultural
hearths, part of the fertile crescent Persian and Ottoman Empires were once regional powers Late 1800’s British controlled Iraq until 1922 Country of Turkey established after the fall of the
Ottoman Empire Iran’s secular government was overthrown in 1979 and is
run by mullahs (religious leaders) that influence politics in the country today
IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEY Discovery of oil in the early 1900’s changed region drastically 1950’s Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela formed
the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to regulate oil production and set oil prices
OPEC has gained power as the demand for oil has increased 1973 imposed a ban on the sale of oil when they became angry
over Arab-Israeli conflicts Demand for oil has made the region important internationally
ARABIAN PENINSULA Harsh desert climate means most people
live along the coast Lives shaped by traditional Islamic culture
and modernization driven by the oil industry
Most in region are Arabs Economic prosperity has brought a labor
shortage to many countries (need somebody to do work they don’t want to)
Many foreign workers from South Asia immigrated to the region for economic opportunity
Most of the population lives in urban areas Discovery of oil led to modernization,
increased wealth and immigration Majority of population in UAE, Kuwait and
Qatar are immigrants
ARABIAN PENINSULA British controlled most of the area during the 1800’s,
except for Oman which has always remained independent
Unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established in 1932
Still ruled today by Saud family Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar gained independence in mid-
1900’s UAE became a country in 1971, country today is an
association of sheikdoms ruled by an Islamic religious leader
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain are monarchies Saudi Arabia is ruled by shari’ah law based on the Quran Kuwait, Qatar are constitutional emirates ruled by
princes
ARABIAN PENINSULA Standards of living vary widely across the region Oil rich countries have used money to improve
infrastructure and promote education Qatar's oil and gas reserves have given it on of the worlds
highest per capita incomes Sunni and Shia are the dominant sects of Islam found in
the region Other sects of Islam are Ibadhism practiced in Oman Wahhabi is a very conservative sect of the Sunni branch
that believes in the literal translation of the Quran, found in Saudi Arabia
CENTRAL ASIA Region has numerous ethnic
groups, reflects centuries of migration and invasion by outside groups
Population has been shaped by conflict
Crossroads of many cultures, early history influenced by the Silk Road
Afghanistan predominant ethnic group is Pashtun
More than 50 nationalities live in the Caucus Mountains (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan)
Turkic peoples live in the republics of Central Asia (Uzbeks, Kazakhs)
CENTRAL ASIA Population densities are uneven across the
region because of the climate and terrain Afghanistan is the most populous country Crossroads of many cultures, early history
influenced by the Silk Road Region has been controlled by Alexander
the Great, Mongols, Ottomans Armenia and Georgia are ethnically and
culturally different than other countries in the region because they practice Christianity
Soviet Union unified parts of Central Asia in the 1900’s
Many countries were objects of Soviet cultural, political and economic influence
Caused an rise in the standard of living and literacy
CENTRAL ASIA Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet
Union in 1979 Mujahedeen freedom fighters defeated
the Soviets and set in motion their decline After the Soviets left, the Taliban imposed
a strict form of Islamic rule on the country When Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 the
Central Asian republics declared their independence
Countries are have moved toward political and economic stability with various degrees of success
Poverty and unemployment are widespread
Healthcare is lacking, years of turmoil have left the region with few resources to spend on social programs
THE REGION TODAY
THE ECONOMY Oil and water two key economic
resources Countries with oil need water,
countries with water generally don’t have oil
Only a small portion of the land is available for farming, yet a large percentage is involved in farming
Agriculture plays a smaller role in oil rich countries where they import most of their food
Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton producers
THE ECONOMY Petroleum and oil products have transformed the region Villages in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and other
Persian Gulf countries have becoming modern cities Iran and Saudi Arabia have developed oil refining and
shipping industries Petrochemical industries provide jobs and improve the
standard of living for many Service industries (banking, real estate, retail sales,
insurance industries, tourism)
THE ECONOMY Extensive road systems are
found in oil rich countries to connect oil fields and seaports
Other countries are hampered by geography and finances
Water transportation is vital to the region
The Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal have strategic and economic importance to ship oil across the world
An elaborate system of pipelines connects oilfields to ports on the Mediterranean, Black and Red Seas
THE ECONOMY TV and radio is expanding, much of it
government controlled Satellite technology is helping sparsely
populated areas improve communication services
Economic interdependence is growing across the region
Transportation and communication has increased interaction
Industrialized countries need oil from the region and the region depends on industrial products from other countries
OPEC has a major economic influence in many countries around the world
There is a wide disparity between the oil rich and oil poor countries
PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT Water resources key issue in region Few major rivers, few countries have
enough freshwater for irrigation Oil rich countries can afford
desalination plants to meet their need for freshwater
Very expensive and takes large amounts of energy to run them
Libya’s Great Man Made River tries to meet freshwater needs
Taps large aquifers under the Sahara desert and carries water to urban areas
Could create problems by depleting aquifers faster than they can be recharged and by taking water from other countries
PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT Aswan High Dam in Egypt
Controls Nile’s floods, provides water for irrigation, supplies electricity
Negative impact is that it prevents Nile floods that bring fertile alluvial soil to lower Nile, and washes away salt
Dam traps soil so farmers have to use expensive fertilizers War has had a negative impact Persian Gulf War, war in
Afghanistan, turmoil in Israel Central Asia inherited Soviet era environmental problems Soviets tested nuclear, chemical, biological weapons there Soviet heavy industry was based in these countries and left
many areas with polluted water