North Africa and Southwest Africa and Southwest North Africa and Southwest North Africa and Southwest Asia Asia (Middle East) Asia (Middle East) Asia (Middle East) (Middle East) Location of countries, with Crossroads of Europe, Heavy reliance on primary Rapid urbanization particular emphasis on the Africa, and Asia economic activity (oil Modernization centered in countries listed below (selected Desert and semiarid drilling, agriculture, urban areas while traditional on the basis of their per capita climates: Sahara, pastoralism) life continues in rural areas GDP, land size, and population) steppes Major producer of world’s percentage of population GDP Mountains oil under age 15 Kuwait Oil revenues: Positive and Population unevenly distributed United Arab Emirates Taurus negative effects Arab countries and Arabic Qatar Zagros Water: The region’s most language Israel Water features precious resource Non-Arab countries: Turkey, Land size Mediterranean Sea Great variation in standards Iran, Israel Algeria Red Sea of living, ranging from very Birthplace of major Saudi Arabia Black Sea high to poverty-stricken monotheistic Libya Arabian Sea Regional conflicts, political Christianity, and Population Persian/Arabian Gulf unrest that affects tourism Islam Iran Strait of Hormuz Aswan High Dam: Positive Conflict over Palestine Turkey Bosporus Strait and negative effects Nomadic lifestyles Egypt Dardanelles Strait Suez Canal: Enhanced Art that reflects the diversity of Nile River shipping routes in the religions (stained glass, Tigris River region geometric tiles, calligraphy, Euphrates River Guest workers mosaics, prayer rugs) Cities as centers of culture and Jordan River Trade important to region trade Baghdad Seasonal flooding, alluvial from earliest time Cultural landscape Cairo soils, delta regions, oases, Wide range of per capita Mosques, minarets Istanbul wadis incomes and levels of Church of the Holy Sepulcher Jerusalem development Hagia Sophia Mecca Contemporary trade routes Bazaars, suqs Tehran (sea lanes) Western Wall Organization of Petroleum Dome of the Rock Exporting Countries Kaaba (OPEC) Pyramids Oil rigs Walled cities Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Location of countries, with particular emphasis on the countries listed below (selected on the basis of their per capita GDP, land size, and population) GDP Kuwait United Arab Emirates Qatar Israel Land size Algeria Saudi Arabia Libya Population Iran Turkey Egypt Cities as centers of culture and trade Baghdad Cairo Istanbul Jerusalem Mecca Tehran Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia Desert and semiarid climates: Sahara, steppes Mountains Taurus Zagros Water features Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Black Sea Arabian Sea Persian/Arabian Gulf Strait of Hormuz Bosporus Strait Dardanelles Strait Nile River Tigris River Euphrates River Jordan River Seasonal flooding, alluvial soils, delta regions, oases, wadis North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Heavy reliance on primary economic activity (oil drilling, agriculture, pastoralism) Major producer of world’s oil Oil revenues: Positive and negative effects Water: The region’s most precious resource Great variation in standards of living, ranging from very high to poverty-stricken Regional conflicts, political unrest that affects tourism Aswan High Dam: Positive and negative effects Suez Canal: Enhanced shipping routes in the region Guest workers Trade important to region from earliest time Wide range of per capita incomes and levels of development Contemporary trade routes (sea lanes) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Rapid urbanization Modernization centered in urban areas while traditional life continues in rural areas percentage of population under age 15 Population unevenly distributed Arab countries and Arabic language Non-Arab countries: Turkey, Iran, Israel Birthplace of major monotheistic Christianity, and Islam Conflict over Palestine Nomadic lifestyles Art that reflects the diversity of religions (stained glass, geometric tiles, calligraphy, mosaics, prayer rugs) Cultural landscape Mosques, minarets Church of the Holy Sepulcher Hagia Sophia Bazaars, suqs Western Wall Dome of the Rock Kaaba Pyramids Oil rigs Walled cities Countries Physical Characteristics Economic Characteristics Cultural Characteristics
world_geography_essential_knowledge.docx