1. I RAN, I RAQ AND T URKEY Ethnic Populations Turks- migrated from Central Asia Eventually became known as the Ottomans and ruled the region for 600 years Most Turks practice Sunni Islam Iranians - migrated from Central Asia Speak Farsi 90% practice Shia branch of Islam Arabs - majority of people in Iraq Most are Shia Muslims Arabic is the most commonly spoken language Kurds - live in mountainous border area of Turkey and Iraq Most are Sunni Muslims Speak Kurdish and have different customs than Arabs of the region Have no country of their own Efforts at self rule have been repeatedly crushed by Turkish and Arab rulers

2. I RAN, I RAQ AND T URKEY Most populous countries are Iran and Turkey Most live in cities Istanbul and Tehran dominate social and cultural life in their countries Cities have had problems because of many villagers looking for opportunity Government of Iran has relocated people to the countryside to relieve overcrowding

3. I RAN, I RAQ AND T URKEY Mesopotamia was one of the world’s first cultural hearths, part of the fertile crescent Persian and Ottoman Empires were once regional powers Late 1800’s British controlled Iraq until 1922 Country of Turkey established after the fall of the Ottoman Empire Iran’s secular government was overthrown in 1979 and is run by mullahs (religious leaders) that influence politics in the country today

4. I RAN, I RAQ AND T URKEY Discovery of oil in the early 1900’s changed region drastically 1950’s Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela formed the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to regulate oil production and set oil prices OPEC has gained power as the demand for oil has increased 1973 imposed a ban on the sale of oil when they became angry over Arab-Israeli conflicts Demand for oil has made the region important internationally

5. A RABIAN P ENINSULA Harsh desert climate means most people live along the coast Lives shaped by traditional Islamic culture and modernization driven by the oil industry Most in region are Arabs Economic prosperity has brought a labor shortage to many countries (need somebody to do work they don’t want to) Many foreign workers from South Asia immigrated to the region for economic opportunity Most of the population lives in urban areas Discovery of oil led to modernization, increased wealth and immigration Majority of population in UAE, Kuwait and Qatar are immigrants

6. A RABIAN P ENINSULA British controlled most of the area during the 1800’s, except for Oman which has always remained independent Unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established in 1932 Still ruled today by Saud family Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar gained independence in mid- 1900’s UAE became a country in 1971, country today is an association of sheikdoms ruled by an Islamic religious leader Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain are monarchies Saudi Arabia is ruled by shari’ah law based on the Quran Kuwait, Qatar are constitutional emirates ruled by princes

8. A RABIAN P ENINSULA Standards of living vary widely across the region Oil rich countries have used money to improve infrastructure and promote education Qatar's oil and gas reserves have given it on of the worlds highest per capita incomes Sunni and Shia are the dominant sects of Islam found in the region Other sects of Islam are Ibadhism practiced in Oman Wahhabi is a very conservative sect of the Sunni branch that believes in the literal translation of the Quran, found in Saudi Arabia

9. C ENTRAL A SIA Region has numerous ethnic groups, reflects centuries of migration and invasion by outside groups Population has been shaped by conflict Crossroads of many cultures, early history influenced by the Silk Road Afghanistan predominant ethnic group is Pashtun More than 50 nationalities live in the Caucus Mountains (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan) Turkic peoples live in the republics of Central Asia (Uzbeks, Kazakhs)

10. C ENTRAL A SIA Population densities are uneven across the region because of the climate and terrain Afghanistan is the most populous country Crossroads of many cultures, early history influenced by the Silk Road Region has been controlled by Alexander the Great, Mongols, Ottomans Armenia and Georgia are ethnically and culturally different than other countries in the region because they practice Christianity Soviet Union unified parts of Central Asia in the 1900’s Many countries were objects of Soviet cultural, political and economic influence Caused an rise in the standard of living and literacy

11. C ENTRAL A SIA Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1979 Mujahedeen freedom fighters defeated the Soviets and set in motion their decline After the Soviets left the Taliban, they imposed a strict form of Islamic rule on the country When Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 the Central Asian republics declared their independence Countries are have moved toward political and economic stability with various degrees of success Poverty and unemployment are widespread Healthcare is lacking, years of turmoil have left the region with few resources to spend on social programs

12. T HE R EGION T ODAY

13. T HE E CONOMY Oil and water two key economic resources Countries with oil need water, countries with water generally don’t have oil Only a small portion of the land is available for farming, yet a large percentage is involved in farming Agriculture plays a smaller role in oil rich countries where they import most of their food Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton producers

14. T HE E CONOMY Petroleum and oil products have transformed the region Villages in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and other Persian Gulf countries have becoming modern cities Iran and Saudi Arabia have developed oil refining and shipping industries Petrochemical industries provide jobs and improve the standard of living for many Service industries (banking, real estate, retail sales, insurance industries, tourism)

15. T HE E CONOMY Extensive road systems are found in oil rich countries to connect oil fields and seaports Other countries are hampered by geography and finances Water transportation is vital to the region The Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal have strategic and economic importance to ship oil across the world An elaborate system of pipelines connects oilfields to ports on the Mediterranean, Black and Red Seas

16. T HE E CONOMY TV and radio is expanding, much of it government controlled Satellite technology is helping sparsely populated areas improve communication services Economic interdependence is growing across the region Transportation and communication has increased interaction Industrialized countries need oil from the region and the region depends on industrial products from other countries OPEC has a major economic influence in many countries around the world There is a wide disparity between the oil rich and oil poor countries

17. P EOPLE AND THE E NVIRONMENT Water resources key issue in region Few major rivers, few countries have enough freshwater for irrigation Oil rich countries can afford desalination plants to meet their need for freshwater Very expensive and takes large amounts of energy to run them Libya’s Great Man Made River tries to meet freshwater needs Taps large aquifers under the Sahara desert and carries water to urban areas Could create problems by depleting aquifers faster than they can be recharged and by taking water from other countries

18. P EOPLE AND THE E NVIRONMENT Aswan High Dam in Egypt Controls Nile’s floods, provides water for irrigation, supplies electricity Negative impact is that it prevents Nile floods that bring fertile alluvial soil to lower Nile, and washes away salt Dam traps soil so farmers have to use expensive fertilizers War has had a negative impact Persian Gulf War, war in Afghanistan, turmoil in Israel Central Asia inherited Soviet area environmental problems Soviets tested nuclear, chemical, biological weapons there Soviet heavy industry was based in these countries and left many areas with polluted water