Cultural Geography of North Africa, Southwest,

and Central AsiaChapter 18, Section 1: North

Africa

Important Vocabulary ▶ Nomad: groups of people who move from place

to place depending on the season and availability of grass for grazing and water.

▶ Bedouin: Arabic-speaking people who migrated to North Africa from deserts in Southwest Asia.

▶ Infrastructure: basic urban necessities such as streets and utilities.

Vocabulary (Cont’d)▶ Domesticate: adapting plants and animals for uses

of food, clothes, and transportation. ▶ Hieroglyphics: a form of picture writing developed

in Ancient Egypt. ▶ Geometric Boundary: following straight lines and

doesn’t account for natural and cultural features. Exist between Libya, Algeria, and Egypt.

Vocabulary (Cont’d)▶Nationalism: a belief in the

right of an ethnic group to have its own independent country. Trend in North Africa during 1800s.

Map of North Africa

The Population ▶ Primary influences were mix of indigenous people

(Berbers) and Arab cultures. Arabs first migrated in the 600s.

▶ Europeans have influenced the region’s culture.▶ Settlements mainly along seacoasts and rivers. ▶ Major population centers: Casablanca, Morocco;

Tunis, Tunisia; Algiers, Algeria; Tripoli, Libya; Cairo, Egypt.

Early Civilizations▶ Farming communities along

the Nile River by 6,000 B.C.

▶ Ancient Egyptian civilization developed 6,000 years ago.

▶ Ancient Egypt developed calendars, buildings, pyramids, and hieroglyphics.

Invasions▶ Arab invasions in the 7th

century.

▶ After brief Byzantine and Vandal invasions, Arab rule cemented.

▶ European colonial rule affected area.

▶ Well-educated urban middle-class adopted nationalism.

Independence▶ Egypt gained independence from

the U.K. in 1922.

▶ Morocco gained independence from France in 1956.

▶ Algeria gained independence from France in 1962.

▶ Libya gained independence from Italy in 1951.

▶ Colonel Muammar Qaddafi came to power in 1969 coup.

Culture▶ Islam is the region’s main religion. ▶ Arabic language is mainly spoken. ▶ Most youths attend school, and primary

education is free. ▶ Literacy rate is 50% in Morocco and 82% in Libya. ▶ Hospitals are gov’t-owned. ▶ Arts: weaving, embroidery, and metal-working.

Cultural Geography of North Africa,

Southwest, and Central Asia

Chapter 18, Section 2: The Eastern Mediterranean

Important Vocabulary ▶Monotheism: the belief in one

God. ▶Prophet: a religious messenger. ▶Mosque: a Muslim house of

worship.

Map of Eastern Mediterranean

The Population▶ 7.6 million people live in the Eastern Mediterranean. ▶ 80% of Israel’s population is Jewish. ▶ Israel was founded as a Jewish state in 1948. ▶ Arabs (Palestinians) in region didn’t want a Jewish

state. ▶ Very high population densities. ▶ Over 80% of people live in cities.

Early Civilizations▶ Elba, Syria was an

important commercial center in 3,000 B.C.

▶ The Semitic Empire around 2,400 B.C.

▶ Damascus, Syria is one of the oldest cities in the world.

History of Judaism▶ One of the oldest

monotheistic faiths.

▶ Jews trace their ancestors to the ancient Israelites.

▶ Judaism teaches obedience in God’s laws.

▶ Hebrew Bible is the Torah.

History of Christianity▶ Jesus began his ministry

around 30 A.D. ▶ His followers believed he

was the Son of Man.▶ Jesus died for mankind’s

sins.▶ Christian Bible contains

the Hebrew Bible.

History of Islam▶ In 610 A.D. God came to

Muhammad in Mecca.▶ He preached people

should not sin and follow God.

▶ By the 700s, the religion spread throughout the region.

Independence & Conflict▶ By the late 1800s, Western

European powers controlled the area.

▶ Lebanon gained its independence in 1943, and Syria in 1946 from France.

▶ Jordan gained its independence from the British in 1946.

Arab-Israeli Conflict▶ The Romans expelled the

Jews from their homeland.

▶ In 1947, the U.N. planned to create a Jewish and Arab state in Palestine.

▶ After British withdrawal in 1948, the Jews created the state of Israel.

The Conflict (Cont’d)▶ Arab opposition led to six

wars over a 25-year period.

▶ The 1967 war gave Israel control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

▶ Peace efforts in the 1990s.

▶ Efforts stalled with Hamas’ electoral victory in 2006.

Culture▶ The majority follow the Sunni Islam faith.

▶ Family life includes the extended family and worship.

▶ The languages spoken are Arabic, Hebrew, and English.

▶ Education is free and compulsory.

▶ Literacy rates vary from 79% in Syria to 97% in Israel.

▶ Most hospitals are gov’t-owned.

▶ Rich history or arts, architecture, and sacred writings.

Cultural Geography of North Africa,

Southwest, and Central Asia

Chapter 18, Section 3: The Northeast

Important Vocabulary ▶ Culture Hearth: center where cultures

developed and spread. Ancient Mesopotamia.

▶ Cuneiform: wedge-shaped symbols written on clay tablets. Sumerians.

▶ Qanats: underground canals. Persian Empire.

Vocabulary (Cont’d) ▶Natural Boundary: a physical

boundary, like mountains. ▶Embargo: a ban on trade. ▶Ziggurat: large, mud-brick temples.

The Turks▶ Turkic peoples migrated

there from Central Asia in the 1,000s.

▶ The Ottoman Turks created the Ottoman Empire.

▶ The Turks practice Islam and speak Turkish.

The Iranians▶ A population of 73

million people; once called Persia.

▶ Indo-Europeans from Russia migrated there around 1,000 B.C.

▶ Iranians speak Farsi and practice Shia Islam.

Arabs▶ Most live in Iraq.▶ Iraqis practice Shia

Islam, about 35% Sunni.

▶ Arabic is the main language spoken.

The Kurds▶ They live in the

mountainous regions of Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.

▶ Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims and speak Kurdish.

▶ They have different customs and dress compared to other Arabs.

Density & Distribution▶Over 70 million people live in

Turkey and 30 million in Iraq. ▶Ankara, Turkey; Tehran, Iran;

Baghdad, Iraq are the capitals and dominate the cultural life.

Ancient Mesopotamia▶ The world’s first culture

hearth.

▶ Known as “The Fertile Crescent.”

▶ Home of the Sumerian civilization.

▶ Master farmers, created codes of law; math and engineering.

The Phoenicians ▶ They settled around

3,000 B.C. ▶ They developed a

new alphabet, basis for many modern alphabets.

The Persian Empire▶ Inhabited the

region during the 500s B.C.

▶The Qanats were a great engineering achievements.

Modern Times▶ Iraq was under British

control until 1932.

▶ Turkey was created in 1923 after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.

▶ Iran underwent an Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The Oil Era▶ In the early 1900s, oil was

discovered in the Persian Gulf.

▶ The Gulf states formed OPEC in the late 1950s, and agreed to regulate production.

▶ Anger over the Arab-Israeli War led to OPEC’s oil embargo in 1973.

Culture▶ Education is required through grade 6 in

Iraq and grade 9 in Turkey. ▶Healthcare varies greatly in the region. ▶ Literature is based on oral traditions,

epics, and poetry.

Cultural Geography of North Africa,

Southwest, and Central Asia

Chapter 18, Section 4: The Arabian Peninsula

Important Vocabulary ▶ Sheikhdom: territory ruled by an Islamic

religious leader. Ex: U.A.E. ▶ Shari’ah: Islamic law based on the

Qur’an. Ex: Saudi Arabia. ▶Emir: a prince. Ex: Kuwait and Qatar.

Vocabulary (Cont’d) ▶Hajj: a pilgrimage. Once in

lifetime to Mecca. ▶Ibadhism: a form of Islam

practiced in Oman. A moderate conservatism.

Map of Arabian Peninsula

The People▶ Most of the people (65 million) are Arab

Muslims.▶ They are descendent from Egyptians,

Berbers, and Phoenicians. ▶ Kuwaitis are Arabs, but migrated to the

region after the discovery of oil.

Density & Distribution▶ In Bahrain, 89% live in 2 cities: Manama and

Al Muharraq. ▶ In Oman, over 50% live in coastal areas. ▶ Most of the people in the U.A.E. are newly

arrived. ▶ Foreign workers: 50% of Qatar’s and 60% of

Kuwait’s population.

Early Cultures▶ Vibrant cultures

existed for over 5,000 years.

▶ Ancient Greeks used Kuwait as a trade center for 2,000 years.

▶ Saudi Arabia created in 1932.

Independence▶ Kuwait gained its independence

from Britain in the mid-1900s.

▶ U.A.E. created in 1971.

▶ Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman are monarchies.

▶ Saudi Arabia follows Shari’ah Law.

▶ Oil-rich nations need foreign labor.

Religion & Language▶ Majority are Muslims.▶ Most believe in hajj. ▶ Some practice

Wahhabism. ▶ Majority speak Arabic.

English also spoken.

Culture▶ Most children go to school, high literacy rates.▶ Oman focuses heavily on a training workforce. ▶ Healthcare varies; hospitals are gov’t-owned.▶ Well-known architecture with mosques and

palaces. ▶ Religious holidays are very important.

Cultural Geography of North Africa,

Southwest, and Central Asia

Chapter 18, Section 5: Central Asia

Important Vocabulary ▶ Enclave: a territory thAT is culturally or

ethnically different from the surrounding larger cultures. Ex: Armenia.

▶ Exclave: a distinct group of people who are isolated from the main part of the country. Ex: Azerbaijan.

▶ Mujahideen: Afghan freedom fighters.

Map of Central Asia

The People▶ Pashtun is the main ethnic

group in Afghanistan. ▶ Over 50 ethnic groups in

the Caucasus region. ▶ Most Turkic peoples

(outside of Turkey) live in Central Asia.

Density & Distribution▶ Uneven distribution due to mountainous

terrain. ▶ 28.4 million people live in Afghanistan. ▶ Numerous conflicts have led to displaced

people. ▶ Many people live and work in the river

valleys.

Cultures & Conquests▶ The Kingdom of Urartu was

in the Caucasus region. ▶ Silk Road began in the

100s B.C.▶ The Ancient Greeks,

Persians, Arabs, and Ottoman Turks also ruled the area.

Conquests (Cont’d)▶ Central Asia fell under the

control Genghis Khan and the Mongols in the 1200s.

▶ The Russian Empire unified the area in the 1800s, and fully under the former Soviet Union by 1936.

Independence▶ The Central Asian states are

now independent since the Soviet Union’s collapse.

▶ The U.S.S.R. invaded Afghanistan in 1979, but ultimately failed.

▶ The Taliban took over Afghanistan after defeating the Soviets until 2002.

Culture▶ The vast majority speak a form of Turkic. Georgia has a

different language and alphabet.

▶ Russian is still the official language in Kazakhstan.

▶ Sunni Islam is the main religion. In Georgia and Armenia, it is Christianity.

▶ Education varies greatly in the region.

▶ Poor healthcare resources.

▶ A rich literary tradition – many novelists.