UNIT 6: NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHWEST ASIA, AND CENTRAL ASIAPage 427

WHERE IS IT?HOW BIG IS IT?PAGE 428

1. Is Cairo north or south of the equator?2. Is Cairo east or west of the Prime Meridian?3. What is the absolute location of Cairo?4. How does the size of Russia compare to the size

of the region of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia?

5. About how large is the population of Egypt?6. What other country in this region has

approximately the same population as Egypt?

FAST FACTS

Qatar: Al-Jazeera, based in Qatar, was started in 1996 as the first independent Arabic-language television channel. It is unique in the Arab world because it is not run by a government. Although it respects the religion of Islam, it freely criticizes the policies of governments throughout the region.

GEO FAST FACTSPAGE 429

1. What four physical features of this region are highlighted on this map?

FAST FACTS Egypt: Animals were

important in ancient Egyptian culture. In Egyptian art, gods and goddesses were frequently shown with human bodies and the heads of animals. Cats first became domestic pets in ancient Egypt. Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess, was associated with joy, music, and dancing.

REGIONAL ATLAS ACTIVITYPAGE 431

1. What two continents does this region consist of?

2. What countries in the region are in Africa (6)?

3. What countries are in Asia (23)?4. What do the names of many of the

countries of Central Asia have in common?

FAST FACT

Afghanistan: The average life expectancy in Afghanistan is only 42 years----36 years less than the average life expectancy in the United States. More than one in four Afghan children die before their fifth birthday.

REGIONAL ATLAS ACTIVITYPAGE 432-433

Map Skills on both pages Page 432

Compare this map to the map on page 431. What parts of this region have the lowest population density? What physical features might account for the low population

density in these areas?

Page 433 Pick two countries from the map. Compare and

contrast their resources using a Venn diagram. Page 434

What is the population density of Egypt? Of the US? How do the land areas and populations of the two countries compare?

How do you think the population distribution in the US compares to that in Egypt?

FAST FACTS Jerusalem: The city of

Jerusalem, in Israel, has been occupied continuously for nearly 5,000 years. The Old City, in the heart of Jerusalem, is surrounded by walls on four sides and contains four neighborhoods- Jewish, Christian, Armenian, and Muslim. The city contains important holy sites of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

SECTION 1

Content Vocabulary

Section Review Questions

2, 3, 4, 5, & 6

Graph Skills (page 445)

Word Definition Picture