Post on 11-Feb-2016
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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 (until last year) 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 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 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 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