Title: CHAPTER SIX
1CHAPTER SIX
- North Africa and Southwest Asia
2I. THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTINGA. Physical Patterns
- Climate
- Although the Sahara is a particularly hot desert
in the worlds driest region, humans make many
adaptations in order to survive.
3 Physical Patterns
- Landforms and Vegetation
- Undulating surfaces cover most of the region. A
few important mountain ranges affect climate
patterns. - Tectonic plates are moving apart to create the
Red Sea this movement is also causing a
collision between the Arabian Plate and Asia,
creating mountains. - The region is home to only three major rivers
all have attracted human settlement for thousands
of years. - Although many early agricultural societies
existed here in the past, agriculture is now
possible in only a few places.
4B. Human Patterns Over Time
- Agricultural Beginnings
- Ten thousand years ago, nomadic peoples of this
region began agricultural communities in the
Fertile Crescent, eventually building elaborate
settlements.
5Human Patterns over Time
- The Emergence of Gender Roles
- After the development of agriculture, the concern
over family lines of inheritance led to the idea
that women should be controlled to prevent them
from becoming pregnant by a number of men.
6Human Patterns over Time
- Other Sites of Early Cultivation
- Early agriculture was also practiced in the Nile
Valley, in the Maghreb, and in Persia. - As nomadic tribes banded together and attempted
to expand their domains, they often conquered
other tribes, adopting much of the culture of
those they conquered.
7Human Patterns Over Time
- The Coming of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
- Judaism was founded nearly 2000 years before
Christianity. After the Jews rebelled against the
Roman Empire, they were expelled from the eastern
Mediterranean and migrated in the Diaspora. - Christianity gathered followers in the area of
Palestine. The Crusades were later launched to
retake the land they had lost because of the
spread of Islam. Christianity later spread
through European colonization and missionary
activity. - Islam is now the overwhelming dominant religion
in the region. The principles of Islam were
revealed to Muhammad, who claimed to be the last
in a long series of great prophets (including
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus). These messages from
Allah were recorded in Islams holy book, the
Quran (Koran).
8Human Patterns Over Time
- The Spread of Islam
- Islam spread far and wide through both trade and
conquest. Muslim culture has made many
contributions to history, mathematics, geography,
medicine, and other academic disciplines. - Islamic rules of conduct guided taxation and law.
Arabs remained the dominant elite as Islam
spread. - The Ottoman Empire inherited the political and
religious institutions of Islam, including
religious tolerance. - Origins of cultural practices (including
seclusion, veiling, and antiforeign attitudes)
are obscure and subject to misconceptions in this
region.
9Human Patterns Over Time
- Western Domination and State Formation
- European influence was first exercised through
the control of trade and finance. - France became the first European country to rule
directly in the region, gaining control of
Algeria. - Europeans also set up protectorates where local
rulers remained in place, yet European officials
made the important decisions. - Europe also influenced countries by example, as
some reformist governments copied Europeans
hoping they could become strong enough to resist
European encroachment. - Effects of this influence disempowered many and
concentrated power and wealth in the hands of a
few.
10Human Patterns Over Time
- Western Domination and State Formation
- After its defeat as an ally of Germany in World
War I, the Ottoman Empire was split up and
portions were allotted to various European
countries. Only Turkey gained true independence. - Although the countries in this region became
independent in the mid-twentieth century, they
remained dependent on Western countries for oil
technology. Meanwhile, oil profits were hoarded
by the wealthy elite. - After World War II, a place was sought to settle
the European Jewish survivors of Nazi Death
camps. Zionists began to purchase land from
Palestinian landholders, establishing kibbutzim.
Palestinian Arabs objected to the establishment
of a Jewish homeland in Palestine the hostility
continues today
11C. Population Patterns
- Most people live along coasts and rivers and in
mountainous areas that capture orographic
rainfall however, due to a rapidly expanding
population, efforts are being made to expand
livable space into the desert. - Although women are marrying later and going to
school longer, the fertility rate is still high
water, food, and jobs are already in short supply
for the growing population.
12Population Patterns
- Gender Roles and Population Growth
- Fertility rates remain high in this region
because of the desire to have a son and gender
inequalities. - However, as women gain more educational,
political, and economic opportunities, they
choose to have fewer children.
13Population Patterns
- Migration and Urbanization
- Many young men are leaving the region for jobs,
intending to return home. - Immigration is also occurring because of job
opportunities or religious persecution. - Internal migration from rural villages to urban
areas is an important pattern in the region. Poor
urban migrants often occupy the medieval
interiors of old cities.
14Population Patterns
- Refugees
- This region shelters many refugees who have fled
war or environmental disasters others become
refugees because of political conflicts. - An even larger group of people are refugees
within their home countries, usually because of
civil unrest. - Refugee camps often become semipermanent with
their own communities and informal economies.
However, the social costs are high.
15II.CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC ISSUESA. Economic and
Political Issues
- Many economic and political issues are barriers
to peace and prosperity. Wealth is unequally
distributed, oil and agricultural prices are
unstable, and large national debts are common.
16Economic and Political Issues
- The Oil Economy
- Oil reserves were exploited by Europeans and
North Americans until the 1970s. Now OPEC
restricts production, raising world oil prices.
However, the resulting oil wealth has mainly
benefited the politically powerful. - Although oil money has not been sufficiently
invested in human, technical, or natural
resources, significant improvements have been
made in infrastructure.
17Economic and Political Issues
- The Traditional Economy Agriculture and Herding
- Despite the abundance of oil and gas in the
region, much of the region remains poor and
dependent on agriculture and herding. - Agriculture
- Irrigation is now being used to expand
agriculture in marginal areas, often resulting in
salinization of the soil. Poorer states are
unable to afford the technology to avoid
salinization. - Political tensions have convinced many
governments to try for agricultural
self-sufficiency no matter what the cost,
resulting in poorly engineered development.
18Economic and Political Issues
- Herding
- Herding was the economic mainstay of the region
for thousands of years, but its importance has
been declining. - Nomadic herders have lost financial and spatial
independence as the region has modernized.
19Economic and Political Issues
- Attempts at Economic Diversification
- Economic diversification can bring prosperity and
stability however, in this region, the state has
long driven economic development. Resources are
limited, and local private capital and outside
investment are insufficient to finance
development. - Government protection of industry has resulted in
low-quality and expensive products with limited
export potential.
20Economic and Political Issues
- Side Effects of Development Efforts
- Structural adjustment programs (SAPs) are an
attempt to reduce debt and cut back government
control in the economy. Because they cut
government jobs and social welfare efforts, SAPs
often have negative effects on the poor. - The conditions that have resulted make it
difficult to attract private foreign investment.
However, post-9/11 circumstances and the war in
Iraq have encouraged more interest in industrial
investment.
21Economic and Political Issues
- The Economic and Political Legacy of Outside
Influence - Due to a long history of outside influence, a
large number of hostilities exist, hindering
needed changes in the region. - The Iraq War (2003-present)
- The Bush administration thought Iraq was
connected to the September 11 terrorist attacks
and had nuclear weapons. Although neither
accusation was proved, war was declared in 2003
to remove Saddam Hussein from power and turn Iraq
into a democracy. - Hussein was captured, and the United States
turned over political control to the Iraqis,
hoping for an end to the violence instead, it
escalated.
22Economic and Political Issues
- Understanding the Continuing Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict - Warfare began in 1948 and hostilities continue,
creating hundreds of thousands of Palestinian
refugees. - The loss of land and political oppression have
led to uprisings among Palestinians. - Although Israel committed to stop settling Jews
in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, they have
continued to build housing and began constructing
a wall around the Palestinian territory in 2003. - Most agree that violence is not the answer, yet
recent talks have failed because of disagreement
over how to share Jerusalem and how to resolve
the refugee situation. Grassroots activists for
peace have gotten little attention in the press
and from world leaders. - This conflict is an example of an obstacle to
political and economic cooperation. Israel has
managed to develop, while Palestinians are
severely impoverished and undereducated.
23Economic and Political Issues
- Understanding the Continuing Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict - Most agree that violence is not the answer, yet
recent talks have failed because of disagreement
over how to share Jerusalem and how to resolve
the refugee situation. Grassroots activists for
peace have gotten little attention in the press
and from world leaders. - This conflict is an example of an obstacle to
political and economic cooperation. Israel has
managed to develop, while Palestinians are
severely impoverished and undereducated.
24Economic and Political Issues
- Islamism and Democracy
- Islamist movements that favor strict
interpretation of Muslim theology and seek
political power are growing. - Many recruits are lower-class men, descendants of
poor farmers, nomads, and refugees, but many
well-educated males and females are also
questioning the validity of secular societies and
the influence of Western thought and customs on
the philosophy of their governments. - Islamism, appealing to the widespread discontent
of millions of increasingly poor people, seems to
offer simple solutions to the regions problems.
25Economic and Political Issues
- Reform efforts from within the Arab Community
- In 2002, a consortium of Arab governments,
scholars, bureaucrats, and activists collaborated
to produce a report on human development,
identifying three deficits human freedoms,
womens rights, and access to knowledge. - The key to ending these deficits is enhancing
democratic institutions. The report argues for
self-determined change from within the region.
26II.CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC ISSUESB. Sociocultural
Issues
- Religion in Daily Life
- More than 93 percent of the people in this region
are Muslim. - Saudi Arabia is at the heart of Muslim religious
geography. - The two main groups of Islam, Sunni and Shiite,
each have within them many different versions of
the faith. These variations spring from the many
different cultural settings in which Islam has
taken root.
27Sociocultural Issues
- Role of Islam in Society
- Islam is the officially accepted religion in
theocratic states in the region, and even plays a
public role in secular states.
28Sociocultural Issues
- Family and Group Values
- Although it is changing, the multigenerational
patriarchal family is still the norm. - Families maintain a physical space (often a
walled compound) and a functional grouping along
the lines of age and gender.
29Sociocultural Issues
- Thinking Geographically about Gender Roles and
Gender Spaces - Carefully specified gender roles exist in Islamic
culture, which is reflected in the organization
of public and domestic spaces. - Women face many restrictions, including
seclusion, requiring a male companion in public,
wearing veils, and not having full legal rights.
However, the patterns vary considerably. - Architecture, window treatments, and clothing are
all elements of material culture that were
designed to help seclude women.
30Sociocultural Issues
- Thinking Geographically about Gender Roles and
Gender Spaces - Womens presence in public spaces is increasing
however it varies by country, social class, and
rural or urban setting. Many countries, including
Tunisia and Morocco, are enacting legislation to
improve the status of women. - The origin of seclusion is controversial, as some
claim it is derived from the teachings of
Muhammad, while others say it was influenced by
non-Islamic cultures that were conquered by Arab
Muslims. - In some states, polygamy exists, although it is
not encouraged or common.
31Sociocultural Issues
- The Lives of Children
- Childrens lives take place mostly within the
family circle. - Their lives are now being extended and
circumscribed by school and television. Both
introduce outside influences.
32Sociocultural Issues
- Language and Diversity
- Arabic is the official language in most countries
in this region, masking and, to some extent,
erasing the great deal of cultural diversity in
the region. - The widespread use of Arabic increases regional
communication and solidarity.
33Sociocultural Issues
- Islam in a Globalizing World
- Many Muslims see modern (mostly Western) culture
as undermining important values. They are worried
about the loss of responsibility to family, the
obsession with materialism, alcohol and drug
addiction, and liberalization of womens roles. - Islamists favor a stricter interpretation of the
Quran in reaction to what they view as negative
Western secular influences. - Many are speculating how modernization can be
combined with Muslim beliefs and values.
34II.CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC ISSUESC. Environmental
Issues
- Although the Quran refers to the role of humans
as stewards of the earth, Muslims have not always
cared for the earth, as urbanization, mechanized
agriculture, and materialism have led to a
degraded environment. - People in the region expect to achieve higher
living standards, which along with population
growth will tax resources even further.
35Environmental Issues
- Water Availability
- Because of arid conditions, people have devised
many strategies to live with low water
availability. However, modernization, growing
populations, and irrigation are increasing water
shortages, soil salinization, and pollution. - Dams and reservoirs are causing problems with
water resources, and conflict over water rights
is growing. Artificial reservoirs are causing a
lack of deposition during seasonal flooding,
increased habitat for disease carrying mosquitoes
and parasites, salinized soils, and wasteful
evaporation.
36Environmental Issues
- Water Issues in the Palestine-Israel Dispute
- Palestinians want Israel to relinquish its water
rights in the Jordan Valley, but Israel believes
it must have access to the water. - The two groups are currently working to resolve
water allotment issues.
37Environmental Issues
- Desertification
- Desertification is a major problem in this region
as nondesert land is turned into deserts. - This is caused partly by climatic change, but
also by human activity, as rangelands are
overstocked, nomads are settling permanently, and
irrigation and urbanization are depleting water
resources.
38II.CURRENT GEOGRAPHIC ISSUESD. Measures of Human
Well-Being
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita does not
take into account the uneven distribution of
wealth in this region. Many are living on an
income far below the average, while a very few
are extremely rich. - Although some countries rank low on the Human
Development Index (HDI) because of the neglect of
womens well-being, Israel is the exception,
reflecting its ability to provide the basics of a
decent life. - The Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) and Gender
Development Index (GDI) illustrate the
differences between genders and the roles they
play in society.