Iran, Iraq, Turkey… and the Kurds Introduction, physical geography, history

What is the difference between a country and a nation? Country – is a political unit Nation – group of people with similar characteristics who are not necessarily living within the same country. A stateless nation – The Kurds

History of the Kurds Origins – Genies??? King Solomon Arab invasions Ottoman Rule

World War Fall of the Ottoman Empire Creation of new countries Kurds get gipped The terror of Saddam Hussein

Fight for Kurdistan Nationalism Kurdish people are largest ethnic group without a state for themselves Some autonomy in Northern Iraq

Physical Geography Iraq, Iran, Turkey

Landforms Convergence of several tectonic plates has created mountainous area North Anatolian Fault (750 miles) – Turkey Pontic and Taurus Mountains – Turkey Elburz and Zagros Mountains – Iran / Iraq Anatolian Plateau – Turkey Anatolian Peninsula

Water Systems Turkish Straits – link Aegean Sea and Black Sea The Tigris and Euphrates (Iraq) Birthplace of ancient civilizations Mesopotamia Caspian Sea (Iran)

Climates Mediterranean Climate – Western Turkey / Northern Iran Semi-arid steppe Arid – deserts cover southern Iraq and southern and eastern Iran