CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS: North Africa and South West Asia Chapter 20: The Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan Pages Date:

I: SAUDI ARABIA A- Capital = Riyadh 1. ruled by the Saud Family (Absolute Monarchy) B- world’s OIL leader and working on better methods of desalinization. © www. Pictures of places.com

Rub al-Khali

II: Nations of the Arabian Peninsula - BAHRAIN- OMAN - KUWAIT- YEMEN - QATAR - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ©www. Pictures of places.com ©

1- It’s Cheap…Middle eastern Oil is easy to drill and easy to refine. 2- American Customers… The U.S. can use up to 75% of all oil consumed per day. America is able to supply it self with what is NEEDED, it must purchase oil for luxury purposes. 3- Saudi Arabia has helped the U.S. by lowering oil prices during difficult times. (after September 11 th ). 4- China and India are now consuming as much, if not more petroleum than the U.S. This means prices increase.

III: IRAQ A- Capital = Baghdad B- suffered through an embargo during Dictator Saddam Hussein’s rule C- Mesopotamia, 2 wars with the U.S. IV: IRAN A- Capital = Tehran B- Government = Islamic Republic C- Agriculture (Pistachio Nuts) - D- People are called Persians © www. Pictures of places.com

V: AFGHANISTAN A- Capital = Kabul B- 20 different ethnic groups C- Taliban ruled this poor country VI: KEY FEATURES A- O.P.E.C. = organization of petroleum exporting countries B- Causes of Tension with the West 1- demanding oil customers 2- division of land and puppet governments 3- support for Israel 4- worry of take over © www. Pictures of places.com