Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia

IntroductionIntroduction

How much smaller is Southwest How much smaller is Southwest Asia than the U.S.?Asia than the U.S.?

About 500,000 square milesAbout 500,000 square miles

How do the populations How do the populations compare?compare?

Nearly the sameNearly the same

Therefore what can you say Therefore what can you say about the population density of about the population density of

SW Asia and the U.S.?SW Asia and the U.S.?

Nearly the sameNearly the same

What sea is What sea is north of north of Turkey?Turkey?

What gulfs What gulfs separate separate

Saudi Saudi Arabia and Arabia and

Iran?Iran?

Middle EastMiddle East

►You may have heard SW Asia referred You may have heard SW Asia referred to a the Middle East. This term began to a the Middle East. This term began in Britain and shows a Western in Britain and shows a Western European bias or view.European bias or view.

► It is used to distinguish the regions of It is used to distinguish the regions of Asia. The Far East being China, Japan Asia. The Far East being China, Japan and Indochina.and Indochina.

►These regions are only east in that These regions are only east in that they are east of Western Europethey are east of Western Europe

After World War After World War II, the nation of II, the nation of

Israel was Israel was created in 1948. created in 1948.

The Jewish The Jewish people had been people had been

asking for a asking for a nation of their nation of their

own long before own long before this time. Why this time. Why

do you think do you think they received they received

their own nation their own nation in 1948?in 1948?

This region has This region has been in conflict been in conflict ever since Israel ever since Israel

was created.was created.

On the map of On the map of 1948, who 1948, who

occupied the occupied the land that is color land that is color coded orange? coded orange?

Red?Red?

What new areas What new areas did Israel occupy did Israel occupy

in 1967?in 1967?

Israel today is smaller than in 1967 but larger Israel today is smaller than in 1967 but larger than in 1948. What nation is in possession of than in 1948. What nation is in possession of

the Sinai Peninsula today? Why is this the Sinai Peninsula today? Why is this territory important?territory important?

How do How do you think you think Israel has Israel has survived survived among among

powerful powerful Arab Arab

states?states?

What is What is the the

largest largest country country in SW in SW Asia?Asia?

What is the major ethnic What is the major ethnic group?group?

What area has holy places for What area has holy places for three major religions?three major religions?

Why might the location of these Why might the location of these places be a problem?places be a problem?

What is the main economic What is the main economic activity?activity?

Nomadic herdingNomadic herding

What does that suggest about What does that suggest about the land and the people on it?the land and the people on it?

A lot of open areas with little A lot of open areas with little populationpopulation