LIFE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA

OBJECTIVE Discuss aspects of everyday life in Southwest Asia.

GUIDING QUESTION In which part of Southwest Asia do most people live and why?

MAIN IDEAS Southwest Asia has a population that is about the same size as the United States’ population (~300 million for SW Asia, ~320 million for the United States), but has only about three-fourths of the land area. Availability of water has shaped population patterns throughout history. Oil-rich countries have experienced population booms in recent times.

INFERRING What conclusions can you draw about population patterns in Southwest Asia in comparison to the United States? If there are about the same number of people living in a smaller area, then average population densities must be higher in Southwest Asia than in the United States. Since water is a scarce resource in much of Southwest Asia, areas of high population density would likely be located near reliable sources of water.

PROGRESS CHECK Why do some countries around the Persian Gulf have rapidly growing populations?

PEOPLE AND CULTURES Guiding Question: What cultural differences are found across Southwest Asia?

MAIN IDEAS Arabs form the largest ethnic group in Southwest Asia; other large ethnic groups are Turks, Persians, Jews and Kurds. Many people in Southwest Asia identify more closely with their tribe or ethnic group than they do with their nationality. The dominant religion in Southwest Asia is Islam. Islam has two major branches: Sunni and Shia

PROGRESS CHECK What is the major ethnic group in Iran? What language does it speak?

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that this was the time when Mohammed received the teachings from Allah that became the Quran (Koran). This makes the month the most sacred time of the year for Muslims.

Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection and devotion to worship. As part of this time of reflection, Muslims are expected to fast from sunrise to sunset.

While fasting for Ramadan, Muslims are forbidden from eating or drinking any fluids. Children, women who are pregnant, the elderly and non-Muslims are excused from fasting. Ramadan ends after 30 days of fasting.

Most Muslims eat a hearty meal before sunrise during Ramadan. This gives them the nutrition they need to get through the day. In this picture, an Iraqi family is enjoying a traditional Ramadan meal. What is different about their meal compared to one of your meals?

What do you think you would find most difficult about observing Ramadan? Why?

Globalization has resulted in the spread of many successful businesses around the world. Commercial goods and services from Europe, North America and Japan have become common sights in cities everywhere.

Some popular American restaurants are found around the world, such as this one near Masqat, Oman. While their design and logos are similar to their American counterparts, their menus contain local foods and ingredients.

How can you tell that this McDonald’s is in a foreign country? Do you agree or disagree with the idea that foreign restaurants encourage people to abandon traditional foods? Why?

PREDICTING EFFECTS What do you think might happen when people have greater loyalty to their tribe or ethnic group than they do to their country?

ISSUES Guiding Question: How have oil wealth and the availability of natural resources created challenges for the countries of Southwest Asia?

MAIN IDEAS Petroleum exports have brought great wealth and modernization to some countries around the Persian Gulf, but also problems. The Arab Spring protests that began in 2010 have brought some reforms and changes in government to many countries in the region. Dramatic population growth has increased the demand for water, a scarce resource in this region; as a result, hydropolitics is growing in importance.

READING SKILLS What does it mean to be “dependent” on something? What does it look like when a country “thrives” due to higher oil prices? What does it mean when a resource is “nonrenewable”? What does it mean when something is “depleted”?

PROGRESS CHECK What was the Arab Spring? What countries in Southwest Asia were involved?

LESSON REVIEW The two most populous countries in Southwest Asia are Iran and ___________. The population of Southwest Asia is (declining/growing rapidly) Areas in regions with dry climates are ___________ (population). Nomadic people called ____________, live in the desert and raise herds of sheep, goats and cattle. In Southwest Asia, ___________ are the largest ethnic group. The most widespread language in Southwest Asia is _________.

LESSON REVIEW The dominant religion in Southwest Asia is ___________. This religion helps (unite/separate) the people of Southwest Asia. ____________ is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the most sacred month of the year. During this time, observant Muslims __________ between sunrise and sunset. The _______________ is the region’s largest supply of fresh water.