Geography and Cultures of Southwest Asia (Middle East)

 This lesson looks at Southwest Asia, more commonly known as the Middle East.  This complex, vital, and sometimes volatile region includes the following nations:  Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

The broad ethnic diversity of the Middle East stems from several early civilizations and three major world religions that evolved in the region.  Later control by outside powers and the nationalistic movements that followed have strengthened the diversity.  As a crossroads for three continents - Europe, Asia, and Africa - the region is a kaleidoscope of ethnic diversity that includes Arabs, Jews, Turks, Greeks, Iranians, Afghanis, and Kurds.  As a result, the region experiences cultural and political challenges today.

The region has seen the rise of some of the world's greatest civilizations, such as Sumerians, Persians, and Phoenicians, as well as the birth of three of the world's major relitiongs:  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Farmers of the region were the first to raise many of the grains, vegetables, and animals that are still used as staple foods in much of the world.  After various empires, invasions, and rule by western European powers, independent states arose in the region during the 20th century.  Most of the region's people are Arabs who follow Islam.  The population of Israel is mainly Jewish.  There has been much conflict between Israel and Arab countries, dominated in recent decades by the disagreements between Israelis and Palestinians.  Other nationalistic, ethnic, and border conflicts create challenges for the region's governments.

Religion has both united and divided the region's peoples.  Arabic - the language of the Muslim faith's sacred text, the Quran - is the main language in the region.  Other languages include Hebrew, Berber, Pushtu, Kurdish, Farsi, Greek, and Turkic languages.  Art, architecture, and literature reveal the influences of religion as well as nationalism.  Although early civilizations produced fine metal work and sculptures, they are best known for their architecture.

Beginning in the 20th century, the ways of life of the people of Southwest Asia changed dramatically.  Population in the region has frown, and there have been many lifestyle changes as more people have moved from rural to urban areas.  In some areas, population growth has surpassed economic growth; as a result, governments often cannot meet people's basic needs

Although only small parts of the region are suitable for farming, much of the population works in agriculture.  Some crops are grown for export, but many foods must be imported.  The region holds much of the world's oil and natural gas reserves.  Countries rich in these resources have developed industries that boost their economies; as part of the Organizations of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), these nations have great control over the production and price of their oil.

Although the wealthier countries use revenues from oil and other resources to buy food from other countries, for others in this mostly arid region, producing enough food and access to fresh water for their rapidly growing populations is a major concern.  Cereal crops, citrus fruits, grapes, and dates are major products in countries with a Mediterranean climate.  The fishing industry is another source of food, with good harvests available in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian Seas, and Persian Gulf.

For thousands of years, the region's rivers, oases, and wells that draw from aquifers have been used as sources of fresh water for people and for irrigation of these parched lands, but only a few countries have enough water for their needs.  Moreover, as the region's population has grown, these sources are no longer enough.  In addition, the Persian Gulf War resulted in air and water pollution.  Sewage wastes, oil tanker accidents in the seas, and fertilizer runoff threaten the region's air, soil, and water.  Pollution and overuse of water for irrigation also threaten the three large seas of the region.  As a remedy, many countries have used oil wealth to build desalination plants to turn ocean water into precious freshwater.

LEARNING:

Read Glencoe World Geography pages 420-431, 439-457, 463-475

MAPPING

Label the major mountain ranges, river, and gulfs.

Label the Middle Eastern countries.

Label the capital city for each country.