Exploring the Region

The North Africa/Southwest Asia region lies at the crossroads of three great continents, a sprawling region that extends across some 4,000 miles of parched deserts, rugged plateaus, and oasis-like river valleys. The region is one of historical and strategic importance, where epic battles were fought and ideologies born. Here, we find some of the world's richest nations, and some of its poorest. The strategic value of oil has combined with ongoing ethnic and religious conflicts to produce one of the world's least stable political settings, one prone to geopolitical conflicts both within and among the countries of the region. Religious differences, which have for centuries divided many of its inhabitants, still create an atmosphere of animosity that, at times, seems insurmountable. Yet, despite the rise of fundamentalism in the region, there is hope for optimism as recent peace talks among high-ranking government officials have been producing positive results.

Islam - This is not a purely Muslim land, as Christianity and Judaism are also well represented here. However, Islam has been perhaps the most important factor in defining the cultural geography of this region. Islam began around the year 610 CE (Common Era, which is equivalent to A.D.) with the prophet Muhammad receiving messages from Allah (God). Muhammad then carried the message of Allah to the people and began to transform Arab culture. His birthplace, Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia, quickly became Islam's holiest site. Not long after his death in 632, a split occurred among the Muslim people over who the legitimate caliph (or successor) to Muhammad should be. One group, now the Shia Muslims (or Shi´ite), believed that the caliph needed to be a blood relative of Muhammad. They recognized Ali (a cousin of Muhammad) as the first legitimate caliph. The other principal group, the Sunni Muslims, did not believe that this was a prerequisite for becoming the caliph, advocating instead that power be passed through established clergy. These two groups survive today, and when examining the geographical distribution of Islam in this region, it is important to consider where these groups are located. Roughly 86% of Muslims are Sunni, and 14% are Shi´ite. As a cultural geographer, be aware that even within these two groups, interpretation of Islam's holy book, the Koran (Qur´an), can vary dramatically. For example, while divorce is a difficult matter for devout Muslim women in Iran, it is much easier in Western Sahara.

The Crusades - Beginning in 1095, the Crusades were an attempt by Christian Europeans to reconquer by force the Holy Land from the Muslims. Several crusades were initiated, and while Jerusalem was captured in 1099 during the first Crusade, the last Christian stronghold at Akko (Acre) fell in 1291. Europeans gained little militarily during these ventures. However, the opening of trade routes, import of Eastern goods and the reintroduction of Greek and Roman knowledge into medieval Europe began social transformations that resulted in the Renaissance of the 1500's. For more information on the Crusades and their impact on this region, visit The History Channel Online (use the keyword "crusades" in the search engine).

Israel - The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 has been one of the most important political developments in this region during the 20th century and has produced an enduring zone of political tension that has often ignited into armed conflict. More secure borders, a permanent State of Palestine and sufficient water rights are but three of the critical issues facing Israel today.

The Suez Canal - Inaugurated in 1869, the Suez Canal joins the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and is the longest canal without locks in the world. See the Suez Canal and the Nile Delta from the Space Shuttle.

Jerusalem - Jerusalem is one of the most interesting cities in the Middle East, with a rich history dating back some 3,000 years before the time of Jesus Christ.

United Arab Emirates - Among the wealthiest and most socially liberal Arab states, the United Arab Emirates is really a federation of seven sovereign nations, each ruled by a different emir (leader of a ruling family). Located south of the Persian Gulf, the UAE controls access to the Straits of Hormuz as well as over 200 oil-rich islands and coral reefs in addition to land on the Arabian Peninsula. More than 80% of the population is foreign-born, employed primarily by the petroleum and shipping industries. Dubai is a key center for international trade.

Urbanization - As in many other areas of the world, rapid urbanization is of concern in this region, not only because of the sprawl it often creates, but also the pressure it places on the natural resources of the area. In populated locations such as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the Nile River Delta in Egypt, urbanization has increased dramatically over the past 40 years.

Managing Water - Water-related issues are of constant concern to most residents of this region. Freshwater is a valuable commodity, often in short supply. In some areas, such as in Iran, qanat systems have been modifying drainage patterns and water flows for thousands of years, enabling better use of existing freshwater supplies. Other areas are less fortunate to have reliable freshwater sources, prompting several governments to encourage water conservation and invest heavily in desalination programs that turn salt water into usable freshwater. In Egypt, the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River, completed in 1970, has greatly increased storage capacity in the upstream reservoir promoting more year-round cropping and an expansion of cultivated lands.

Take a photographic tour of Morocco and experience day-to-day life in this northwest African nation.

Journey to Istanbul, Turkey and take a virtual tour through photographs. Turkey, while eager to join the European Union, is also a key state in Southwest Asia. Turkey controls the Bosphorus Straits, which divides Istanbul, separates Asia from Europe and through which about six supertankers loaded with oil pass each day. Istanbul was also once the great Eastern Orthodox Christian city of Constantinople and the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Take a trip down the Nile River, from Lake Nasser to Cairo, and view life on the shores of this important waterway. See the Great Sphinx and tour the Valley of the Kings.

Travel to Kuwait and visit the country that was the focus of the 1991 Persian Gulf War between the United States and Iraq.

Radio:

Radio Tunis - 93.1 FM - Tunis, Tunisia
Arutz-7 - Israel National Radio - 105.2 FM - Tel Aviv, Israel (not official national radio station) ~ News

You'll need to Download the FREE G2 player to listen in.

Newspapers:

North Africa Journal (Regional)
Al-Ahram Weekly (Egypt)
Cyprus News Agency (Cyprus)
Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) (Iran)
Ha'aretz (Israel)
The Jerusalem Post (Israel)
The Jordan Times (Jordan)
Kuwait Times (Kuwait)
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
Jamahirija News (Libya)
Oman Daily Observer (Oman)
Gulf Times (Qatar)
Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
Syrian Times (Syria)
Dünya (Turkey)
Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)
Yemen Times (Yemen)

Weather Forecasts:

[ Southwest Asia (Middle East) | Satellite image ]

Embassies in Washington D.C.:

Algeria
Bahrain
Iran (through the embassy of Pakistan)
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Yemen

Additional Links:

OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)
Time travel in Turkey
Egyptian Resource Page