Middle East and North Africa: An Introduction

Algeria

Oasis, Sinai Peninsula

Bedouin People, Lebanon

Qatar

Rub al Khali Desert, Yemen

Yemen

Physiographic Regions There are diverse features interspersed across the Middle East and North Africa:•Mountain Ranges

•Coastal Lowlands

•Highland Plateaus

•Floodplains

•Deserts

Two Crucial River Systems:Tigris-Euphrates in Fertile CrescentNile (White Nile/Blue Nile) in North Africa

Middle East and North Africa Elevations

Generalized Tectonics of the Middle East

Climate

•Variable

•Orographic Rainfall

•Largely Arid- consider it’s location around 20N

Climate in Middle East and North Africa

Environmental Problems:•Deforestation

•Species extinction

•Death of oases from overuse

•Oil pollution

•Industrial pollution

•Habitat destruction

•Salinization of soils due to irrigation

•Desertification

Rich Cultural Heritage

Empires

Domestication of plants and animals

Extended Family

Trade Routes

Ancient Sites of Fertile Crescent

Religion

Three major world religions began here: Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

The Islamic World

Family

Importance of kinship and tribe.

Contemporary Issues

Most contemporary problems stem from two things:

1. Boundaries and borders created by colonial powers

2. Strategic importance of region to political and economic interests of core countries

Oil: Blessing and Curse The study of petroleum provides an example of how places

become interconnected politically and environmentally through the movements of commodities.

Oil fires in Iraq, 2003

Consider how Middle Eastern and North African countries compare in Gross Domestic Product to other countries.

Why aren’t Middle Eastern and North African countries part of the core?

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

OPEC Member CountriesAlgeriaIranIraqVenezuelaIndonesiaQatarSaudi ArabiaKuwaitLibya NigeriaUnited Arab Emirates

Please understand Goode’s map pp 58-59 for your exam.

Major Petroleum Flows

Everyday Life for Young People in Middle East and North Africa

Film: Young Voices from the Arab World

Film Questions:

•Why have families moved?

•What urbanization problems are mentioned in film?

•How do people make a living?

•What is the role of extended family in these stories?

•How has war impacted the young people in the film?