1. Southwest Asia
Objective 1: summarize the physical geography of Southwest Asia.
Objective 2: explain the political boundaries of Southwest Asia.
Objective 3: Describe the diversity of the region and the movement of its people

3. Political Map

4. Arabia and Iraq Arabian Peninsula – three sides surrounded by water.
North of Arabian Peninsula is Iraq.
Technically, Arabia and Iraq are part of the Asian continent.

5. Major Bodies of Water:
Persian Gulf
Gulf of Aden
Red Sea
Gulf of Oman
Tigris and Euphrates River

6. Oil and Gas Riches

7. Oil and Gas Riches
Eastern edge of the Arabian Plate pressed against the Eurasian Plate.
Pressure formed mountains in Northeastern Iraq.
Saudi Arabia has world’s largest oil reserves and output.
Fold traps – held undersea layer of muck
Heat and pressure transformed muck into oil and natural gas (fossil fuels)
Many fold traps formed in the Arabian plate, beneath the Persian Gulf and Euphrates and Tigris river valley.

10. Living on Oil
Oil and natural gas is used to pay for nearly all of their needs. Problem?
Oil money is often used to build water facilities and pay for food grown in other regions.
Arabia and Iraq produce ¼ of the world’s oil. Problem?
Oil production has also harmed environment

11. Water Resources
Desalination:
Removal of salt from seawater.

12. A Diverse Region

13. Diversity Arab Muslims are majority
Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE are mostly not Arab
Iraq – Kurdish minority
Tensions in Iraq
Sunni-led dictatorship toppled in 2003

16. Islam Monotheism (def) Followers of Muhammad Islam “submission”
Holy text: Quran
Sharia law
Holy site: Mecca (Kabaa)
Worship in mosques
Divide after the death of Muhammad:
Sunni
Abu Baker (1st Caliph)
Shite
Ali

19. Faith
Almsgiving
Fasting
Hajj
Prayer