1. The Persian Gulf and Interior
World Geography Today
7/6/2018
The Persian Gulf and Interior
Preview
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 19

2. Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
What landforms and rivers can be found in the Persian Gulf area and the interior of Southwest Asia?
How does the region’s physical geography affect its climates and biomes?
What natural resources does the region have?

3. Section 1: Natural Environments
Landforms and Rivers
Arabian Peninsula—Mountains in the west and dry plains stretching to the Persian Gulf in the east
Iraq—Wide plain of Mesopotamia, with two great rivers, Tigris and Euphrates
Iran—Zagros, Elburz, and Kopet-Dag Mountains, along with high plateaus
Afghanistan—Hindu Kush mountain range

4. Section 1: Natural Environments
Question
What factors influence the climate of Southwest Asia?

5. Section 1: Natural Environments
Factors Influencing Southwest Asia’s Climate
High Pressure
Orographic Effect
Elevation
Winds
• Westerlies bring winter rains
• Cyclonic storms
• Southerly winds blow over water, drop rain on Elburz Mountains
• Cooler temperatures in highlands
• Resorts in mountains
• Skiing in Iran
• Dry climates
• Humid near coast
• Lack of water
• Clear skies
• Plants adapted to dry conditions
• Humidity at mountain peaks
• Rainfall on mountains
• Trees in mountain regions

6. Section 1: Natural Environments
Natural Resources
Water, a Scarce Resource
Tigris and Euphrates are critical to Iraq.
Farmers in northern Iran depend on rain; others rely on irrigation.
Desert areas may have oases and wells.
Desalinization of seawater is possible for wealthy countries.

7. Section 1: Natural Environments
Natural Resources (continued)
Oil, Plentiful and Valuable
Persian Gulf reserves are the world’s largest.
Iraq, Oman, and Yemen also have deposits.
Only Iran has substantial metallic ores.
There are few other resources in the region for developing industry.

8. Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
How have peoples, empires, and Islam affected the history of the Persian Gulf area and interior Southwest Asia?
What are the major features of the region’s cultures?

9. Section 2: History and Culture
Question
How have various peoples and empires affected the history and culture of countries in Southwest Asia?

10. Section 2: History and Culture
Various peoples and empires have shaped history.
Sumerians built the first civilization and cities in the Fertile Crescent.
Akkadians created the first real empire in the area, around 2350 B.C.
Persians established a powerful empire around 550 B.C.
Greeks and Romans later controlled the region.

11. Section 2: History and Culture
The rise of Islam had a major impact, beginning in the late A.D. 500s. Muhammad was born in Mecca, and established his Muslim community centered at Medina.
Mongols arrived in the 1200s.
Safavid Persians built a flourishing empire in the 1500s.
Ottoman Turks also ruled the region in the 1500s.

12. Section 2: History and Culture
Arabs
Persians
• Largest ethnic group in entire region
• Arabic language dominant
• Muslim
• Farsi language
• Dominant in Iranian society, hold most important positions
Cultures of Southwest Asia
Kurds
Pashtun
• Muslim
• In Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey
• Desire self-rule
• Language like Farsi
• Largest ethnic group in Afghanistan
• Speak Pashtu language
• Several small tribes

13. Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features
Islam is the unifying element.
Arabs are the major group in the region; Arabic is the main language.
Kurds live in borderlands of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
Cultural diversity is more complex in Iran and Afghanistan.
Most Iranians are Persians; other Farsi-related groups include Baloch, Bakhtiari, and Hazara. Turkic languages are spoken by the Turkmen, Azeri, and Qashqai.
Pashtun are the largest group in Afghanistan.

14. Section 3: The Region Today
Read to Discover
On what activities do the region’s economies depend?
What are the region’s cities like?
What are some important issues in the region today?

15. Section 3: The Region Today
Question
What activities drive the economy of the region?

16. Section 3: The Region Today
Oil Production
Agriculture
Nomadic Herding
Traditional Crafts
Manufacturing
• 8.25 million barrels a day from Saudi Arabia
• Economies modernized by oil wealth
• Oil-related manufactur-ing
• Mostly subsistence
• Barley, wheat
• Livestock— sheep, goats, cattle
• Farms in river valleys
• Commercial farming near cities
• Import food
• Tend herds of camels, goats, and sheep
• Make handicrafts
• Increased settling in towns due to lack of grazing land
• Wool rugs
• Use local materials and traditional designs
• Building materials
• Food products
• Oil refining, chemical manufactur-ing
• Household supplies

17. Section 3: The Region Today
Urban Environments
Largest cities are the national capitals
Ancient cities
Old sections—Buildings one or two stories tall, twisting streets, bazaars, mosques
Newer sections—Modern buildings, wide avenues, traffic, high-rise apartments, fast-food outlets

18. Section 3: The Region Today
Important Issues
Oil wealth—Can influence oil prices and affect economies world-wide, protect tradition, support governments, build military
Power and authority—Democracy versus control by a few
Role of Islam—Maintenance of Islamic traditions and laws

19. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
In what ways has the plant life of the region adapted to the conditions there?
Why has Mesopotamia been such an attractive target for invasion throughout history?
What is the major language spoken in Iran? In Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia?
What changes are taking place in the traditional rural economy and culture of the region?
What are two important factors accounting for Saudi Arabia’s influence in world affairs today?