Chapter 7A Lecture Slides

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NORTH AFRICA & SOUTHWEST ASIA I 7A: Defining the Realm Pages: 260-277

Major Geographical Qualities: 

Major Geographical Qualities World crossroads Physical Aridity Oil Cultural Culture hearths World religions Conflict Population: Discontinuous clusters around infrequent water sources Regional Imbalances: Oil and non-oil states (“haves” versus “have-nots”) Political Geography: Fragmented due to colonial experience

Naming the Realm: 

Naming the Realm Popular Labels Dry World Arab World Islamic World Middle East

The Dry World?: 

The Dry World? Dry/arid climate prevails throughout the realm Exceptions: Peripheral regions of Turkey Northwestern Iran Oases Several great river valleys, e.g. the Nile

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Annual Precipitation

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Negev Desert E.J. PALKA

Water - A Renewable or Finite Resource?: 

Water - A Renewable or Finite Resource? Water is critical for life, food production, and industrial processes. Nine out of 14 Southwest Asian states face water-short conditions. This is the most concentrated region of water scarcity in the world. Growing populations increase stress on water sources: North Africa/Southwest Asia averages a natural increase of 1.8%

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Israel-Syria Border E.J. PALKA

Population Distribution: 

Population Distribution The majority of the population in this realm lives not in the dry or arid regions, but around water resources such as the – Nile River – Mediterranean Sea – Euphrates and Tigris Basin (early Hydraulic Civilizations emerged here) – Lower mountain slopes of Iran, south of the Caspian Sea

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Population Distribution

An Arab Realm?: 

An Arab Realm? Relates to ethnicity and language as cultural features of this realm Arabic is the dominant language in 16 states of the realm; ethnic Arabs are dominant in 2 of the 16 In non-Arab States, indigenous or colonial languages dominate: – Turkey - Turkish – Iran - Farsi – Israel - Hebrew – Niger - French – Kazakhstan - Kazakh

Islamic Realm?: 

Islamic Realm? This region is birthplace of the three major monotheistic religions of the world Judaism Christianity Islam Islam is the dominant religion The Jewish faith dominates in Israel, with minorities in other states Significant Christian minorities (Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Syria, elsewhere)

Religions of the World: 

Religions of the World

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Dome of the Rock E.J. PALKA

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E.J. PALKA The Western Wall

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E.J. PALKA Church of the Nativity

Islam: 

Islam Muhammad (571–632 A.D.) as final and greatest prophet Quran (Koran) is the holy book Five Pillars of Faith Repeated expressions of creed Frequent prayer (5 times per day) Month of daytime fasting (Ramadan) Alms-giving Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)

The Spread of Islam: 

The Spread of Islam

Spatial Diffusion: 

Spatial Diffusion The process by which a concept, practice, or substance spreads from its point of origin to new territories Types Expansion diffusion Contagious diffusion : to next available person Hierarchical diffusion : from larger to smaller places Relocation diffusion: by migrating populations

Divisions within Islam: 

Divisions within Islam Sunnis versus Shi’ites Split over issue of successor to Muhammad 85% of Muslims are Sunni Shi’ites are dominant in: Iran Iraq Azerbaijan Religious revivalism Iranian revolution (1979) Wahhabism (Saudi Arabia) Al Qaeda and Usama Bin Laden

Islam and Other Faiths: 

Islam and Other Faiths Submersion of Judaism and Christianity in the Levant (eastern Mediterranean shore) Crusades: Christian attempt to recapture Holy Land Israel and Arab neighbors Ottoman Empire and aftermath

Ottoman Empire: 

Ottoman Empire