Southwest Asia

Peninsulas Plains & Highlands

Mountains Waterways Resources

Arabian Peninsula- Most distinctive

landform in Southwest Asia

- Separated from Africa from Red Sea and Asia by Persian Gulf

- Mountains to the North prevent rain from reaching

Plains of Arabian Peninsula- Covers much of

the peninsula- Hejaz mountains

in southwest corner

- Home to wadis, dry river beds

Zagros- Isolated Iran from

rest of SW Asia- Southwestern part

of Iran

Tigris & Euphrates- Fertile Crescent- Flow through

Turkey, Syria and Iraq

- Empties into Persian Gulf

Oil- Half of world’s oil

reserves found in SW Asia

- US depends on importation of oil from region

Anatolian Peninsula- Occupied by

Turkey- Marks start of

Asian continent- Located between

Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea

Plateau of Iran- Iran is a plateau

surrounded by mountains

- Good for farming and grazing

Elburz- South of Caspian

sea- Cuts off Iran from

access to the Caspian

Jordan River- Water provided

for entire region- Natural boundary

between Israel and Jordan

- Flows into Dead Sea

Water- Most valuable

resources because of its scarcity

- Turkey, Iran, Lebanon & Afghanistan has abundance of water

- Used to generate electricity

Taurus- Separates Turkey

from rest of SW Asia

Dead Sea- So salty that only

bacteria can live in it

- Lowest place on exposed crust on Earth

Others- coal, metallic

minerals, copper- Much is spread

out, making it difficult to mine

- Turkey and Iran

CLIMATE

Finding WaterDams Turkey building 22 dams for water and hydroelectrivityDesalinization removing salt from ocean water not good for drinking or agriculture used for sewageFossil Water Pumping from underground aquifers 25-30 years left

Youtube desalination

Extracting Oil Large deposits in region Oil trapped in rock Oil discovered in early 20th century Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Must be refined Transportation problems (spills etc.) OPEC (youtube)

Islam Monotheistic Founder: Mohammad Holy sites in Saudi Arabia include

Mecca & MedinaFive Pillars Faith: “There is no God but God, and

Mohammad is his prophet.” Ritual prayer: 5 times a day, facing

Mecca Alms Giving: Supporting the poor Fasting: During month of Ramadan,

between sunrise and sunset Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a

lifetime

Shifting Governments in Southwest Asia Early Muslim countries were theocratic

Today, modern gov’ts base laws on Shari’ah law

1600s: European countries colonize much of SW Asia

Controlled by Britain & France through WW II

Why was this region attractive to European countries?

Saud family takes control of Arabian peninsula by 1930s

Urbanization of SW Asia

1960: 25% urban 1990: 58% 2015: 70% Riyadh: 4 million people

Eastern Mediterranean

Syria Lebanon Israel Jordan Cyprus

Religious Holy Places in Jerusalem Judaism, Christianity, Islam all have holy sites in the region

All three claim Jerusalem as a holy city, with holy sites in the city

Jewish Holy Sites Solomon’s First Temple destroyed 586 BC Second Temple destroyed by Romans, 70 AD Western Wall all that remains Holiest Jewish site in Jerusalem

Christian Holy Sites Jerusalem site of Jesus’

crucifixion Mount of Olives; Church of the

Holy Sepulcher European Christians launched

crusades to recapture land from Muslims

Islamic Holy SitesDome of the Rock Shrine at spot where Muhammed is believed to have

ascended into heaven Located on the Temple Mount, site of Jewish temples

History of Unrest 1520-1922: Rule by Ottoman Empire Post WW I: Britain & France divide land

British Palestine Britain controls Palestine Mandate 1800s: Zionism – reestablish Jewish

state Britain allows Jewish and Arab settling 1939: increasing tension; Britain stops

Jewish immigration

Theodor Herzl is considered the founder of the Zionist movement. In his 1896 book Der Judenstaat, he envisioned the founding of a future independent Jewish state during the 20th century.

The State of Israel 1947: UN creates plan

to divide Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state

May 14, 1948: Modern Israeli state established

Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia ,Yemen invade

Israel repels attacks and thrives

1964: Palestinian Liberation Organization

Refugees in Eastern Mediterranean

Palestinians lost land during 1948 war Many still live in UN-sponsored camps PLO & Hezbollah attacks & Israeli counterattacks have caused

political instability Today, Syrians fleeing their gov’t leading to another refugee

crisis

Problems with Modernizing Israel has modern infrastructure necessary for economic

growth War-torn areas lack infrastructure Potential exists in these areas for economic growth Variety of cultures has positive and negative consequences

The Northeast Turkey Iraq Iran

Ethnic Diversity Most people here are Muslim Turks, Kurds, Arab, & Persian ethnic groups Muslims split between Sunni & Shi’ite 4 out of 5 are Sunni; most Iranians are Shi’ite

Kurds: A Stateless People Ethnic group living in Turkey, Iraq, Iran

Promised homeland at end of WWI Iraqi forces gassed Kurds in late 80s & 90s

Wars in the RegionIraq-Iran Wars 1980-1990 Control of oil fields Why does US help Iraq?Persian Gulf War 1991 Iraq invades Kuwait (oil fields) US led coalition pushes back invasion https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrtL_XVv3s

United States Intervention in the post-9/11 World By late 90s, Taliban ruling

Afghanistan, protecting Osama Bin Laden

Sept 11, 2001: Terror attack on US, sponsored by Bin Laden

Oct. 2001: US invades Afghanistan March, 2002: Provisional gov’t in

Afghanistan established March, 2003: US invades Iraq &

removes Saddam Hussein May, 2011: Bin Laden found and

killed in Pakistanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icX6FjyV-p0