North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia - PowerPoint Presentation

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North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central AsiaSlide2

What makes this A Region?

Deserts and Mountains

Population that practices one of the three major monotheistic religions

Possession of more than half of the worlds known oil reserves

A need for freshwater resourcesA history of external cultural influencesSlide3

Physical Geography

Tectonic activity responsible for shaping landscape

4 tectonic plates converge in this region

Shifting plates have built mountains and frequently cause earthquakes

Atlas mountains are found in North AfricaPrecipitation on northern side of mountains makes this an agriculturally productive regionAlong the coast of the Arabian Peninsula two mountain ranges, Hejaz and

Asir

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Asir region the most agriculturally productive region in Southwest AsiaCaucus Mountains are found between the Caspian and Black SeasSlide4

Physical Geography

Coastal Plains are the most fertile regions and support agriculture

Major peninsulas-

Arabian, Sinai, Anatolian

Landlocked bodies of saltwater are found in the regionCaspian Sea- largest inland body of water on EarthDead Sea on the border of Israel and Jordan is at the mouth of the Jordan RiverAral Sea in Central Asia

1960’s fourth largest body of water in the world

Dried up in the 1970’s to present because of water used for irrigation to grow cotton, split the sea north and southSlide5
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Physical Geography

Water Systems

Region lacks abundant water resources and rivers have always been important and affected development

Nile River

fertile land along river home to one of the worlds earliest civilizations90% of population lives in Nile River delta (3% of Egypt’s land)Aswan High Dam on Nile provides hydroelectric power and water for agricultureTigris- Euphrates valley in Southwest Asia was a cradle of civilization

Today dams provide water for agriculture and hydroelectric power for Syria, Iraq and TurkeySlide7

Physical Geography

Oil and natural gas are the most important natural resources in the region

Region contains over 60% of the know world oil reserves

Oil exports have enriched the region

Economy can rise or sink because of fluctuation in world oil marketsMany countries in the region are trying to diversify their economies away from reliance on oil exportsSlide8

Climate

Water scarcity affects the regions climate

Deserts cover more than 50% of the region

Sahara Desert

largest desert in the world, covers North AfricaWeather patterns in deserts are extreme, cold nights and long hot summersRub al-Khali in Saudi Arabia largest area of sand in the worldSome nomadic herding and small scale farming is possible in oasis regionsVillages develop around oasesSlide9

Climate

Steppe

is the second largest climate region

Supports livestock grazing

Mediterranean climates are found in coastal areasCountries rely on Mediterranean climates to export citrus fruits, olives to Europe and North AmericaThese regions also benefit from tourismSlide10

Cultural Geography Slide11

North Africa

Indigenous cultures of North Africa have mixed with Arab and European cultures

Spanish, French, Roman, Jewish and Muslim cultures have influenced the region

European influence mainly in coastal North Arica (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia)

Primary cultural mixture is Arab and indigenous culturesArab invaders mixed with native Berber peopleBerbers exist today as farmers and pastoral nomadsArabs migrated to the region around 600Slide12

North Africa

Availability of water has influenced settlement

Most people settled along seacoasts and river deltas

Cairo, Egypt is one of the most densely populated cities on the planetSlide13

North Africa

Location near Europe and Southwest Asia has made the region vulnerable to invasion over the centuries

Regions farmers were among the first in the world to domesticate plants and animals

One of the world first great civilizations developed in the Nile River Valley

In the 600’s Arab invasions and heavily influenced cultures of the regionThe Arabs brought their language, architecture and Islam European colonial influence in the 1800’s helped develop the regions geometric boundariesSlide14

North Africa

Egypt

gained independence in 1922 from Great Britain

Typically pro- Western in their views, country has a large military

Their control of the Suez canal has made it a key regional powerEgypt is also a center of Arab nationalismAlgeria gained independence from France in 1962They have developed their natural resources (oil) and raised their standard of livingLibya

gained independence from Italy in 1951

Since 1969 they have been ruled by a military dictator Muammar Kaddafi (until last year)

Morocco and Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956Slide15

North Africa

Most people in North Africa practice Islam

Most share the Arabic language

Literacy rates range widely from 52% in Morocco to 82% in Libya

Health care is government run in most countries, with urban areas receiving better health care than rural areasSlide16

Eastern Mediterranean

Countries in the region include: Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon

Dry desert climate of the region causes majority of population to live along coasts and Euphrates River Valley

Parts of region have highest population densities in the region

Eastern Mediterranean is 75% urbanPeople from over 100 countries have settled in Israel, makes an ethnically diverse countrySlide17

Eastern Mediterranean

Region is inhabited by Jews and Arabs

Most Jews live in Israel

Trace heritage to region that is today Israel and Lebanon

Invasions led to exile and persecution, forced many Jews to relocate to different countries1948 Israel founded as an independent Jewish stateArabs in region did not want Jewish state that had been their homeland for centuries, brought a series of six wars to the region sine 1948Palestinians are the Arab people that live where Israel is todayMany have been displaced from their homes and have been forced to become refugeesSlide18

Eastern Mediterranean

Three major religions began in region

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

All three share similar beliefs, especially monotheism

Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic faithsChristianity was founded in the land of Israel in AD 30Islamic tradition began on nearby Arabian peninsula and spread to the region by AD 700Slide19

Eastern Mediterranean

Jews in the late 1800’s called Zionists , called for a return to Palestine and the foundation of a Jewish state

After WWII the UN divided Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state

1948 Jews proclaim the independent state of Israel

Series of wars occurred over the next 50 years and caused many Palestinians to become refugeesMany Palestinians today live in Israeli controlled settlements in IsraelPalestinians want an independent state of their ownIsrael agreed to give the Palestinians some self rule in the 1990’s, but have since changed their position

The militant Palestinians group Hamas has supported attacks on Israeli territorySlide20

Eastern Mediterranean

Most people in are Muslim

Large groups of Christians live in Syria and Lebanon

Hebrew is spoken in Israel, while other countries speak Arabic

Literacy rates vary from 76% in Syria to 96% in Israel