1. Major Natural Resources
North Africa and Southwest Asia

3. Natural Resources Phosphates Petroleum and Natural Gas
Used in the manufacture of fertilizer
Brings wealth to the region because of the world’s dependency on it
Over half of the world’s known oil reserves are found in this region

4. Impact of Petroleum (oil)
Positive Impact
Negative Impact
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) -- An organization formed in by several Gulf States. Its primary mission is to stabilize petroleum prices around the world.
Oil supplies a large portion of the economy of the region.
Uneven distribution of petroleum deposits has created a gap of wealth and power in the Middle East.

5. Why does OPEC and the prices/control of oil relate to you?