North Africa and Southwest Asia Middle East Leading

North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East)

Leading countries according to GDP n Kuwait n United n Qatar n Israel Arab Emirates

Leading countries according to Land size n Algeria n Saudi n Libya Arabia

Leading countries according to population n Iran n Turkey n Egypt

Physical Characteristics n Area is the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia n It has a primarily desert or semi-arid climate n Sahara, Sahel, and steppes are the primary vegetation region

n Sahara--world’s largest desert, it stretches over most of North Africa and is growing n Sahel--area separating the Sahara from the tropical rainforest of Africa.

n The Sahel is an area of temperate grassland (steppe) moving into sparse desert scrub-like vegetation

n Three main mountain ranges n 1. Atlas Mountains in northern Algeria and Morocco n 2. Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey n 3. Zagros Mountains in western Iran

n Even though this is a dry area, water plays a very large role n There are several large bodies of water which play a major role in world politics

n. Examples : n. Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf n. Strait of Hormuz n. Arabian Sea n. Red Sea

n Other important bodies of water n Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Bosporus Strait, Dardanelles Strait, Nile River (longest in the world), Tigris and Euphrates (home to the world’s first civilization) and the Jordan River

n The area is also subject to seasonal flooding, alluvial soils, delta regions, oases, and wadis

n Seasonal flooding--several of the rivers flood regularly (Nile) which deposit rich alluvial soil for farming

n The desert regions are home to many oases (a place where fresh water makes it possible for life to exist in a dry area) and wadi (a gully or usually dry river bed cut by running water after a downpour)

Economic Characteristics n The area has a heavy reliance on primary economic activities such as oil drilling, agriculture and herding/grazing

n The area is the home of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries n Many countries in the area still belong today n Major producers of the world’s oil n Provide large oil revenues

n Positive effects--jobs, revenue, position of power n Negative effects--reliance on one industry, pollution, unequal distribution of wealth

n Water is the region’s MOST PRECIOUS resource n Aswan High Dam has had positive and negative effects on the region. n Suez Canal enhanced shipping routes in the region

n Positive effects of the Aswan High dam n. Controls flooding, recreation areas, power n Negative effects of the Aswan high Dam nland losing fertility, lost homes when dam built,

n There is a great variation in the standard of living in the region. n It ranges from the relatively high to the poverty stricken. n There is also a wide range of per capita income and differing levels of development

n Trade has been important to the region from the earliest time. n Today regional conflicts and political unrest have affected trade and tourism n The area today has contemporary trade routes (sea lanes)

n The Cultural Characteristics area has experienced rapid urbanization n Most modernization has centered around urban areas and more traditional life has continued in the rural areas

n Large percentage of the population is under the age of 15 due to conflict, disease and the hardships associated with the region. n The population is generally unevenly distributed due to the environment and resources

n All but three of the countries are Arab nations and they use the Arabic language. n Turkey, Iran and Israel are the non-Arab countries

n North Africa and Southwest Asia are the birthplace to three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. n All three claim similar holy places and the dominant group has changed over the years.

n Since 1949, the region has been in conflict over the area known as PALESTINE. This area is present day Israel.

n Much of the region has a nomadic lifestyle n NOMADIC-to wander from place to place behind a food source or for other reasons

n The art of the region reflects the diversity of the religions; n stained glass, geometric tiles, calligraphy, mosaics, and prayer rugs

Cities as centers of trade and culture n Baghdad, Iraq n Cairo, Egypt n Istanbul, Turkey n Jerusalem, Israel n Mecca, Saudi Arabia n Tehran, Iran

Cultural Landscape n Mosques, minarets n Church of the Holy Sepulcher n Hagia Sophia n bazaars, sugs n Western Wall (of Jerusalem)

n Dome of the Rock n Kaaba n Pyramids n Oil rigs n walled cities

n The End of the Notes

Sahara desert

Oasis

Stained Glass/Mosaics

Prayer Rugs

Oil Rigs

Kaaba

Dome of the Rock

Hagia Sophia

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Pyramids

Western Wall

Western Wall