Transcript North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East)

North Africa and Southwest
Asia (Middle East)
Culture and Economics
Leading countries according to
GDP
 Kuwait
 United
 Qatar
 Israel
Arab Emirates
Leading countries according to
Land size
 Algeria
 Saudi
 Libya
Arabia
Leading countries according to
population
 Iran
 Turkey
 Egypt
Southwest Asia and North
Africa Satellite Images
at night
Economic Characteristics
 The
area has a heavy
reliance on primary
economic activities such as
oil drilling, agriculture and
herding/grazing
(pastoralism)
 The
area is the home of the
Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries
 Many countries in the area still
belong today
 Positive
effects--jobs, revenue,
position of power
 Negative
effects--reliance on
one industry, pollution,
unequal distribution of wealth
Tourism
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Major service industry of region is tourism
Because of political unrest and regional
conflicts has seen a decline in recent years
Examples of Site: Actual
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Harbor sites: Alexandria, Egypt and
Istanbul, Turkey
Hilltop Site: Jerusalem, Israel
Oasis site: Damascus, Syria
Standard of Living
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Great variation in standard of living
Some very poor countries and poverty
stricken
Poor countries have low per capita income
and poor infrastructure
Examples of Situation:
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Baghdad, Iraq- command of land between
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Istanbul, Turkey- command of Bosporus
and Dardanelles Straits and land bridge to
Europe
Mecca, Saudi Arabia- focal point of
pilgrimage (Islam)
Areas of conflict and dispute:
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Western Sahara and Morocco-dispute over
land
Iraq and Kuwait-dispute over land
Israel and Syria- dispute is over an area
called Golan Heights
Ethic differences exist on island of Cyprus
between Turks and Greeks
Kurdistan
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Area of northern Iraq, Iran, southern
Turkey, Syria and former Soviet Union
Kurds are an ethnic group
Kurds would like their own nation
Kurds have strong feelings of nationalism
Kurdistan
League of Arab States

Political organization set up of over 20
Arab nations to try to resolve problems

Cultural Geography of Northern
Africa & Southwest Asia
Population
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300 million
concentrations along
the Nile, Euphrates &
Tigris & Coasts
low overall population
due to desert climate
very high growth rates
in Gaza

Languages
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Unified by Arabic
Language - An AfroAsiatic Language
Hebrew spoken in
Israel
Tribal languages
spoken in remote
areas of North Africa
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.
 Since
1949, the region has
been in conflict over the area
known as PALESTINE. This
area is present day Israel.
 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
Stained Glass/Mosaics
Prayer Rugs
Oil Rigs
Kaaba
Dome of the Rock
Hagia Sophia
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Pyramids
Western Wall
Western Wall
Walled Cities
Calligraphy-writing
Religious buildings:
Islam-mosque
Christian-church
Judaism-synagogue
Bazaars/Suq-market