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 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

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, they

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 area environmental problems Soviets tested nuclear, chemical, biological weapons there Soviet heavy industry was based in these countries and left many

areas with polluted water