i ran, i raq and t urkey ethnic populations turks- migrated from central asia eventually became...
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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