Section 1: North Africa Section 2: Southwest Asia

Section 3: Central Asia

Jose Fuste Raga/CORBIS

Egypt
Egypt has a developing economy with about a third of its people working in agriculture in the fertile Nile Valley. Most of the people live in the Nile River Valley, and 20% of the population lives within 20 miles (32 km) of the Nile River.

Egypt (cont.)
Egypts main energy resource is oil, and petroleum products and phosphates, which are minerals used in fertilizers, are Egypts major exports. Egyptian workers also make food products, textiles, and other consumer goods.

Cotton and cotton products make up 25% of Egypts export trade.

Libya and Laghreb

As well as being part of North Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco also form a smaller region known as the Maghreb. In Arabic, Maghreb means the land farthest west. This area received this name because it is the westernmost part of the Islamic, Arabic-speaking world.

Libya and Laghreb (cont.)

Almost all of Libyas people have a mixed Arab and Berber ethnic background. Berbers are a group that settled North Africa before the arrival of the Muslim Arabs in the A.D. 600s. From that point, Libya has been a Muslim and Arabic-speaking country.

Libya and Laghreb (cont.)

Libya became independent in 1951, but soon Muammar al-Qaddafi set up a dictatorship, or a government under the rule of one all-powerful leader. From the 1970s to the 1990s, Qaddafi supported terrorism and sought to acquire nuclear weapons.

Libya and Laghreb (cont.)

The United States and the United Nations forced Qaddafi to chance his policy, or plan of action, by punishing Libya through trade barriers called trade sanctions.

Libya and Laghreb (cont.)

Morocco has an Arab and Berber heritage and was for many years a Muslim kingdom. In the early 1900s, Europeans gained control, but in 1956 Morocco became independent once again. It is known for its historic cities, such as Marrakesh and Casablanca.

The Eastern Mediterranean

Most of Turkeys people live in cities or towns such as Istanbul and Ankara. Most are Muslims, and Turkish is the official language.

Muslim political groups have gained support since the 1990s, but many Turks prefer a secular, or nonreligious, society.

The Eastern Mediterranean (cont.)

Most of Syrias people live in rural areas, where they grow cotton, wheat, and fruit. Damascus is the capital. It is one of the worlds oldest continuouslyinhabited cities.

The Eastern Mediterranean (cont.)

Lebanon has been independent since 1943.
Most Lebanese live in or near Beirut, the capital and major port, and work in banking, insurance, and tourism. Most speak Arabic, but their culture blends Arab, Turkish, and French influences.

The Eastern Mediterranean (cont.)

In 1947, the United Nations gave the Jews control of land where their Israelite ancestors had lived about 3,000 years ago. Israel was proclaimed an independent Jewish republic in 1948 by David BenGurion, Israels first prime minister.

The Arabian Peninsula

Most of Saudi Arabias people live along the Red Sea and Persian Gulf coasts, the countrys oil region, or around desert oases. The capital and largest city, Riyadh, sits amid a large oasis in central Saudi Arabia.

The Arabian Peninsula (cont.)

The oil profits of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have built prosperous economies that allow them to provide free education, health care and other services. Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is a large port, financial center, and tourist resort.

Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan

Some of the first-known cities arose between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The rivers are a major geographic feature in Iraq. Between them is an area built up by rich soil left by river floods. This is called an alluvial plain.

Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan (cont.)

Most Iraqis live in urban areas such as Baghdad, the capital. Iraqs population has three major ethnic groups. They are the Shia, the Sunni and the Kurds.

The Kurds are Sunni Muslims who wish to have their own country.

The Central Asian Republics

After the Soviet collapse in 1991, Kazakhstan became independent but did not adopt democracy. It is the largest of the Central Asian Republics.

The Central Asian Republics (cont.)

Be able to explain the negative impact of cotton farming on the environment and economy of Uzbekistan (pages 505-506). Most of Tajikistans people are ethnic Tajiks or ethnic Uzbeks.

The Caucasus Republics

The Caucasus Mountains extend across Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, giving these countries the name the Caucasus Republics.
Landlocked Armenia sits on top of many cracks in the Earths crust, called faults, caused by colliding tectonic plates.

As a result, the country suffers frequent, serious earthquakes.