World Geography 10c 10d North Africa and Southwest Asia

​World Geography

10c 10d North Africa and Southwest Asia

​Objectives

​The student will analyze the characteristics of the North African and Southwest Asian regions by

c) explaining important economic characteristics;

d) recognizing cultural influences and landscapes.

NORTH AFRICA AND
SOUTHWEST ASIA

(Middle East)

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

● Heavy reliance on

primary economic
activity

○ Oil drilling—Major

producer of world’s oil
(oil revenues have both
positive and negative
effects on the region)

○ Agriculture

○ Pastoralism (livestock

raising)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_Oil_Reserves_by_Region.PNG

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

● Water: most

coveted resource

● Wide range of

economic statuses
and levels of
development

○ Ranges from very high

standards of living to
poverty-stricken

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NASA%27s_GRACE_Sees_Major_Water_Losses_in_Middle_East.jpg

Fresh water issues

• The is a shortage of freshwater in the Middle East

• Desalinization is the process of removing salt from water

Multiple Choice

Why is north Africa and The Middle East (southwest Asia) so good at managing water resources?

• They live in a very dry climate and are dependent on managing water well.

• There is plenty of water and they do not really need to manage it well.

• The climate is tropical and they have to manage flooding.

• They just use the Oasis to help people who live in dry areas.

Multiple Choice

What are the two most important natural resources in The Middle East and North Africa?

• Oil and Sand

• Rivers and Deserts

• Dirt and Sand

• Oil and Water

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

● Regional

conflicts/political
problems have affected
tourism

● Aswan High Dam

● Suez Canal

○ Enhanced shipping routes

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suez_canal_map.jpg

Multiple Choice

Suez Canal is located in which African country?

• Egypt

• Morocco

• Sudan

• Algeria

​OPEC - Control production and price of oil for countries

​Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

● OPEC

● Trade is crucial (and

always has been!)

● Guest workers
● Contemporary trade

routes (sea lanes)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Opec-Opec%2BMap.png

Multiple Choice

What is OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)?

• union of oil producing countries that regulate the amount of oil each country is able to produce.

• Oceania People in Every Colonies

• Organization of People exiting Countries.

• Group of Rich Kings in the Middle East who control the exports of oil

Multiple Choice

Compared to The United Nations, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is more focused on the economic interests of member nations.

• True

• False

• Neither true or false

• I have no idea, because I am not paying attention.

Some conflicts have been over oil and water, but others have been over culture, religion and traditions in the region.

​

​Israel and Palestine

Multiple Choice

Which of these regions best replaces the question mark in the title?

• Central America

• West Africa

• Southwest Asia

• Eastern Europe

CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

● Rapid urbanization

● Traditional life continues to

flourish in rural areas

● Modernization is centered in

urban areas

● Uneven population

distribution

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Middle_East_map_PNG.png

CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

● Languages:

● Arabic

● Hebrew (Israel)

● Farsi (Iran)

● Turkish (Turkey)

● Religion Origins:

● Judaism

● Christianity

● Islam

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Middle-east-languages.jpg

The Byzantine Empire

• Also known as the Eastern Roman Empire

• Crossroads of trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa - made it wealthy and powerful!

• Practiced Eastern Orthodox Christianity

• Spoke Greek, preserved education and literature of the Roman Empire

• Lasted until the Ottoman Empire invaded in 1453

Major Religions

Three monotheistic religions began in the Middle East. Judaism began in Israel. People who practice Judaism are called Jews. Christianity also began in Israel. People who practice Christianity are Christians. Islam began in Saudi Arabia. People who practice Islam are called Muslims. The city of Jerusalem is important to all three religions.

Multiple Choice

What modern-day country contains the original capital of the Byzantine Empire?

• Italy

• France

• Greece

• Turkey

JUDAISM

● One of the world’s oldest

religions (c. 1800 B.C.E)

● Abraham

● Monotheistic

● Synagogue

● Star of David

● Books: Talmud; Hebrew

Bible (Tanakh)—1st five
books of the old
testament

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Synagogue_Plzen_CZ.jpg

CHRISTIANITY

● One of the world’s

youngest religions (33
C.E.)

● Jesus

● Monotheistic

● Cross, dove,

alpha/omega

● Holy Bible

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ISRAEL,_Capernaum,_Tabgha,_Church_o
f_the_Primacy_of_St._Peter;_ID_is_16-1252-103.JPG

ISLAM

● Youngest of the five

main religions (622
C.E.)

● Muhammed

● Monotheistic

● Mosque

● Star and Crescent

● Qu’ran (Koran)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Exterior_view_of_the_Grand_
Mosque_of_Mecca,_Saudi_Arabia_(7).jpg

Sunni vs Sh​ia

Iran vs Saudi​

Iran vs Iraq

Syria​

Iraq War with USA (twice)​

Israel vs Palestine​

​What are the three major religions in this region?

Religion and Conflict

CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

● Art reflects diversity:

○ Christian church =

stained glass

○ Islam = geometric

tiles, prayer rugs,
mosaics,
calligraphy

● Conflict over

Israel/Palestine

● Nomadic lifestyles

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jatxou_(Pyr-Atl._Fr)_vitrail_1.JPG

Cultural Landscape

Mosques, Minarets

Since Islam is the dominant religion in the
North Africa and Southwest Asia, mosques
and minarets are very common throughout.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_mosque_near_a_rest_stop_between_Kh
artoum_and_Karima.jpg

Multiple Choice

In what city was this most likely built?

• Babylon

• Giza

• Olympia

• Rhodes

Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Located in Jerusalem.

The place of Jesus’
crucifixion, burial, and
resurrection.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchr
e_by_Gerd_Eichmann_(cropped).jpg

Western Wall

Located in Jerusalem.

Also known as the
“Wailing Wall”

It is the last remaining
outer wall of the Second
Temple.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Wall_in_Passover_2022.jpg

Dome of the Rock

Located in Jerusalem.

Islamic shrine located on
the Temple Mount.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:16-04-04-Felsendom-Tempelb
erg-Jerusalem-RalfR-WAT_6385.jpg

Kaaba

Located in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia

Metaphorical house of
God

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaaba_mirror_edit_jj.jpg

HAGIA SOPHIA

● It was originally built

as a cathedral in
Constantinople (now
Istanbul, Turkey)

● In it’s 1,400 year life

span, it has served
as a cathedral,
mosque and now a
museum

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia_Sophia_Mars_2013.jpg

BAZAARS, SUQS

● A Market in the Middle

East

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand-Bazaar_Shop.jpg

WALLED CITIES

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Walled_City_of_Shibam-109043.jpg

Multiple Choice

What data classification shows that Chad has a subsistence economy?

• GDP Composition by Sector

• Labor Force by Occupation

• GDP Per Capita (PPP)

• Public Debt

Multiple Choice

Based on the table, how would the Middle East's development level best be defined?

• newly industrialized with a growing GDP

• newly industrialized with a growing GDP

• subsistence living with a low GDP

• mixed economic region with a varied GDP

Multiple Choice

True or False? Religion has been a source of conflict in the region.

• True

• False

• Neither true nor false

• I have no idea