IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEYEthnic 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

IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEY

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

IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEY 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

IRAN, IRAQ AND TURKEY

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

ARABIAN PENINSULA 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

ARABIAN PENINSULA

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

ARABIAN PENINSULA 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

CENTRAL ASIA 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)

CENTRAL ASIA 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

CENTRAL ASIA 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

THE REGION TODAY

THE ECONOMY

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

THE ECONOMY 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)

THE ECONOMY 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

THE ECONOMY 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

PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 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

PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

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