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Southwest Asia and North Africa

PhysicalPhysical AridityAridity OilOil

CulturalCultural• Culture Culture HearthsHearths• World World ReligionsReligions• ConflictConflict

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Characteristics PopulationPopulation

Scattered clusters around Scattered clusters around scarce water sourcesscarce water sources

Regional DifferencesRegional DifferencesOil and Non-oil states Oil and Non-oil states

Political GeographyPolitical GeographyFragmentedFragmented

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Also Known As…

Popular LabelsPopular LabelsDry WorldDry WorldArab WorldArab World Islamic WorldIslamic WorldMiddle EastMiddle East

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THE DRY WORLD ?

Dry/arid climate prevails throughout the Dry/arid climate prevails throughout the realmrealm

Exceptions:Exceptions: Regions of Turkey Regions of Turkey Northwestern section of IranNorthwestern section of Iran OasesOases Several great river valleysSeveral great river valleys

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WATER - A RENEWABLE OR FINITE RESOURCE?

9 out of 14 Southwest Asian states 9 out of 14 Southwest Asian states face water-shortage conditionsface water-shortage conditions (the most concentrated region of (the most concentrated region of water scarcity in the world).water scarcity in the world).

The North African states all have The North African states all have rates of rates of natural increase above natural increase above 2.0%,2.0%, increasing the stress on increasing the stress on water sources.water sources.

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AN ARAB REALM ? Relates to language as a cultural Relates to language as a cultural

feature of this realmfeature of this realm ArabicArabic is the dominant language in is the dominant language in

16 States of the region.16 States of the region. In Non-Arab States, In Non-Arab States, indigenous indigenous

languageslanguages dominate. dominate.- - Turkey - TurkishTurkey - Turkish- - Iran – Farsi (Persian)Iran – Farsi (Persian)- - Israel - HebrewIsrael - Hebrew

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ISLAMIC REALM? Muhammed (571- 632 Ad)Muhammed (571- 632 Ad) Five Pillars Of FaithFive Pillars Of Faith

Repeated Expressions Of CreedRepeated Expressions Of Creed Frequent PrayerFrequent Prayer Month Of Daytime Fasting (Ramadan)Month Of Daytime Fasting (Ramadan) Alms-givingAlms-giving Pilgrimage To MeccaPilgrimage To Mecca

Sunnis vs Shi’itesSunnis vs Shi’ites Sunnis make up 85% of Muslims. Most Sunnis make up 85% of Muslims. Most

Shi’ites live in Iran.Shi’ites live in Iran.

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POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

The majority of the population in this The majority of the population in this realm lives around water resources.realm lives around water resources.

- The Nile- The Nile

- Mediterranean Sea- Mediterranean Sea

- Euphrates and Tigris Basin - Euphrates and Tigris Basin

- Lower mountain slopes of Iran, south - Lower mountain slopes of Iran, south of of the Caspian Seathe Caspian Sea

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THE MIDDLE EASTTHE MIDDLE EAST

““Middle” of the Eastern realm- Middle” of the Eastern realm- between the Far East (China) and the between the Far East (China) and the Near East (Turkey)Near East (Turkey)

Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon Center of conflict between Christians, Center of conflict between Christians,

Jews, and MuslimsJews, and Muslims SunniSunni – – Shi’aShi’a conflict (within Iraq and conflict (within Iraq and

throughout the region)throughout the region)

© 2008, TESCCC

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent An area located in a crescent-shaped An area located in a crescent-shaped

region between the Persian Gulf in region between the Persian Gulf in the south and Israel in the west.the south and Israel in the west.

Center of human civilization and was Center of human civilization and was the site of the ancient Mesopotamian the site of the ancient Mesopotamian Empire that developed along the Empire that developed along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.