SOUTHWEST ASIA NOTES IMPORTANT INFORMATION…WRITE IT DOWN!

1. Why are most of the inhabitants of many countries like Central and Southwest Asia unevenly distributed? Because most people live near reliable sources of water. 2. Where is much of the SWA regions oil production located? The Persian Gulf 3. Be able to explain what type of government of Syria has.

4. What is desalinization? It is a process of removing salt from water. It provides fresh water for people and irrigation for crops. 5. What type of population lives in the desert and semiarid regions of North Africa? Nomadic (Bedouins) 6. What is Infrastructure? It is the basic support system for a city, town, or nation, which consists of roads highways, transportation, education, etc.

7. Describe the climate of Central and Southwest Asia. Desert with an arid and semiarid climate 8. Where in North Africa, would farming be most productive and where would most of the populations possible live? Most of the farming is around the Western Mediterranean region, and most of the people live along the Mediterranean Sea. This is due to the expansion of the Sahara Desert. (People moving to moist areas.) 9. What is Judaism and what are some of its beliefs? Judaism believes that there is only one God, and that He revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was on Mount Sinai that God gave his commandments to Moses, and a covenant was made between God and his people.

10. How has OPEC and its policies affected the United States? - OPEC countries produce more or less oil to control pricing. This influences other nations politically. 11. Why do many religious groups in the Middle East oppose Westerners? Western culture is a threat to their culture and they want to protect their culture. 12. Why is Israel so ethnic diverse? People from around the world have immigrated to Israel. Much of the immigration is due to the Zionist movement.

13. What is one thing the Israelis did to overcome the challenge of limited farmland? They built irrigation systems 14. Describe some of the benefits of the Suez Canal. It is a short cut that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea that has saved thousands of miles of travel for shipping vessels 15. Explain the current type of government that Syria has, and how the Syrian president feels concerning oppositions to government policies. The Syrian government currently is a Democracy, however, it believes in using force to control oppositions to its policies. The Syrian president believes the government has a right to protect itself against those who want to overthrow it within.

16. Explain how some forms of democratic governments differ. -Some forms of democratic governments may use force to control opposition to its policies, such as Syria today. 17. Explain the change in land-use in North Africa and Southwest Asia. -Populations growth and overuse of land and reduction in water resources have led to more people moving into cities (urban areas).

18. Explain the United States role in supporting democratic movements taking place in North Africa and Southwest Asia as a positive change, even if it results in internal conflict within these countries. The U.S. considers democracy better for the people of the region than most of the current forms of government there. 19. What is nationalism, and how would it, along with democratic movements create conflict within nations in North Africa and Southwest Asia? -Nationalism is a strong feeling of patriotism for ones own country. There has been a spread of democratic movements and conflict within the nations of this region and between these nations and the West.

20. What river are Turkey, and Iraq most likely to have conflict over? Tigris & Euphrates Rivers 21. What is desertification, and explain what affect it has on migration. Desertification is dry conditions moving into moist areas, and those areas become desert. (example: the Sahara Desert moving into the Sahel would cause people to move to a region where there would be more precipitation.)

22. Name some factors that are responsible for large human migration. -Political instability -Lack of water, or drought -Disease and famine 23. Which of the religions originating in the Southwest Asia is the oldest? - Judaism

24. Explain why North Africa and the Middle East are considered a single region. -Islamic armies swept into Egypt -Muslim invaders brought their language, culture, and religion to North Africa.

Islam