North Africa and Southwest Asia and Central Asis(Middle East) Review Lesson

Leading countries according to GDP (What do the initials mean?) Kuwait United Arab Emirates Qatar Israel

Leading countries according to Land size Algeria Saudi Arabia Libya

Leading countries according to population Iran Turkey Egypt

Physical Characteristics Area is the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia It has a primarily desert or semi-arid climate Sahara, Sahel (Located between the Sahara and the Savannah region of North Africa), and steppes are the primary vegetation region

Sahara—What is significant about this desert? Sahel--area separating the Sahara from the tropical rainforest of Africa.

The Sahel is an area of temperate grassland (steppe) moving into sparse desert scrub-like vegetation

Three main mountain ranges 1. Atlas Mountains in northern Algeria and Morocco 2. Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey 3. Zagros Mountains in western Iran

Even though this is a dry area, water plays a very large role There are several large bodies of water which play a major role in world politics. List several major bodies of water ( 5).

Examples : Persian Gulf/Arabian Gulf Strait of Hormuz Arabian Sea Red Sea

Other important bodies of water Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Bosporus Strait, Dardanelles Strait, Nile River (longest in the world), Tigris and Euphrates (home to the world’s first civilization) and the Jordan River

The area is also subject to seasonal flooding, alluvial soils, delta regions, oases, and wadis (Define and discuss the words above.

Seasonal flooding--several of the rivers flood regularly (Nile) which deposit rich alluvial soil for farming

The desert regions are home to many oases (a place where fresh water makes it possible for life to exist in a dry area) and wadi (a gully or usually dry river bed cut by running water after a downpour)

Economic Characteristics The area has a heavy reliance on primary economic activities such as oil drilling, agriculture and herding/grazing (What is the term for herding/grazing?)

The area is the home of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Many countries in the area still belong today Major producers of the world’s oil Provide large oil revenues

Positive effects--jobs, revenue, position of power Negative effects--reliance on one industry, pollution, unequal distribution of wealth

Water is the region’s MOST PRECIOUS resource Aswan High Dam has had positive and negative effects on the region. What did this dam due for Egypt? Suez Canal enhanced shipping routes in the region

Positive effects of the Aswan High dam Controls flooding, recreation areas, power Negative effects of the Aswan high Dam land losing fertility, lost homes when dam built,

There is a great variation in the standard of living in the region. It ranges from the relatively high to the poverty stricken. There is also a wide range of per capita income and differing levels of development

Which country has the most poverty? Which country has the most urban wealth?

Trade has been important to the region from the earliest time. Today regional conflicts and political unrest have affected trade and tourism The area today has contemporary trade routes (sea lanes)

Cultural Characteristics The area has experienced rapid urbanization Most modernization has centered around urban areas and more traditional life has continued in the rural areas

Large percentage of the population is under the age of 15 due to conflict, disease and the hardships associated with the region. The population is generally unevenly distributed due to the environment and resources

All but three of the countries are Arab nations and they use the Arabic language. Turkey, Iran and Israel are the non-Arab countries

North Africa and Southwest Asia are the birthplace to three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All three claim similar holy places and the dominant group has changed over the years.

Who found was the founder of Judaism. Who was the founder of Islam Who found was the founder of Judaism? Who was the founder of Islam? Who was the founder of Christianity

Since 1949, the region has been in conflict over the area known as PALESTINE. This area is present day Israel.

Why was Israel created?

Much of the region has a nomadic lifestyle NOMADIC-to wander from place to place behind a food source or for other reasons

The art of the region reflects the diversity of the religions; stained glass, geometric tiles, calligraphy, mosaics, and prayer rugs –Which group is responsible for the items above?

Cities as centers of trade and culture Baghdad, Iraq Cairo, Egypt Istanbul, Turkey Jerusalem, Israel Mecca, Saudi Arabia Tehran, Iran

Church of the Holy Sepulcher Hagia Sophia bazaars, sugs Cultural Landscape Mosques, minarets Church of the Holy Sepulcher Hagia Sophia bazaars, sugs Western Wall (of Jerusalem)

Dome of the Rock Kaaba Pyramids Oil rigs walled cities

The End of the Notes –Students there are problems in this area; they are: Environment, Water Scarcity, Overcrowdedness, Poverty, lack of Civil rights, and Terrorism –Get with your partner and work on

an invention or process that will improve conditions for people in a particular country in this area. Before getting started, view the pictures that Follow and list the points for rubric to follow.

Sahara desert

Oasis

Stained Glass/Mosaics

Prayer Rugs

Oil Rigs

Kaaba

Dome of the Rock

Hagia Sophia

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Pyramids

Western Wall

Western Wall