"Climate, culture, and oil all help define the complex Southwest Asia and North Africa world region... Diverse languages, religions, and ethnic identities have molded land and life within the region for centuries, strongly wedding people and place in ways that have had profound social amd political implications." (Rowntree, et al., Chapter 7)
- This chapter introduces Southwest Asia and North Africa, a region that includes the tumultuous Middle East and the oil-rich Gulf States. While this region is usually associated with arid climates, oil, and Islam, you should be aware that this region is far more complex. Spanning portions of three continents, it was central to world trade for thousands of years. This region was also the birthplace of many beliefs and values that underpin modern western society, including its major religions.
- Chapter 7 provides insights into many ongoing political conflicts in the region. At the conclusion of this chapter, you should be familiar with the physical, demographic, cultural, political, and economic characteristics of Southwest Asia and North Africa. In addition, you should understand the following concepts and models:
- Environmental geography
- Regional landforms, including Maghreb and Levant; Climate patterns; Deforestation and overgrazing; Salinization; Water management.
- Population and settlement
- Demographics; Rural settlement patterns and activities; Urban landscapes; Migration patterns.
- Cultural coherence and diversity
- Religion, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam; Language; Internationalism, globalization and cultural change.
- Geopolitical framework
- Colonial legacy; Decolonization and independence; Arab-Israeli conflict; Politics of fundamentalism; Conflicts within states; Conflicts between states; Uncertain political future.
- Economic and social development
- Geography of fossil fuels; Regional economic patterns; Patterns of poverty; Issues of social development; Women; Global economic relationships, including OPEC, regional trade organizations, and tourism.
