C H A P T E R 34 Interior Southwest Asia

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C H A P T E R 34 Interior Southwest Asia
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I. IRAQ
Flag Descriptionred, white, and black with 3
stars in the white band the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR
(God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to
the right of the middle star and Akbar to the
left of the middle star design is based upon the
Arab Liberation colors
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A. Physical geography
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A. Physical geography
Iraq lies at the SE end of the Fertile Crescent
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A. Physical geography

• Iraqs three land-form regions are plains,
• deserts, and mountains

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B. Population
Iraq has a variety of ethnic groups
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B. Population
Arab 75-80 Kurdish 15-20 Turkoman, Assyrian
or other 5
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B. Population
Kurds are the major ethnic group in northern Iraq
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B. Population
The Kurds have sought independence since the
early 20th century
Kurdish fighters attempted to establish an
independent homeland in Iran in 1946, but their
success was only temporary
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B. Population

• Most Kurds live in mountain valleys growing
• grains and herding livestock

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B. Population

• Iraq is mostly Islamic Shi'a 60-65,
• Sunni 32-37 Christian or other 3

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B. Population

• In the western deserts, Bedouins still raise
• grazing animals

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B. Population

• The most populated areas are located on
• the plains along rivers and irrigation canals

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B. Population

• Baghdad is the capital and largest city

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B. Population

• Baghdad is a modern center of government
• services, manufacturing, and commerce

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B. Population

• Baghdad is an ancient city of Islamic culture
• and learning

Kazimiya Mosque in Baghdad
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C. Economic geography
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C. Economic geography
1/3rd of Iraqs people are involved in
agriculture
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C. Economic geography
Irrigation maintenance is a constant task
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C. Economic geography
Some land has become too salty for crop growth
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C. Economic geography
Iraq produces about 3/4th of the worlds dates
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C. Economic geography
Iraq has some of the worlds largest oil deposits
Iraqs proven oil reserves of 112 billion barrels
are the worlds second largest, behind Saudi
Arabia
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C. Economic geography
Mechanized oil industry provides few jobs
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C. Economic geography
Other industries include food products, consumer
goods, and building materials
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D. Political geography
Iraq was once at the heart of the Mesopotamia
culture, the world's first civilizations
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D. Political geography
Iraq was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the
17th century
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D. Political geography
Iraq was occupied by Britain during and after
World War I
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D. Political geography
In 1958 a revolution overthrew the king and
installed the Baath party government
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D. Political geography
In 1979, Saddam Hussein came into power
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D. Political geography
From 1980 to 1988, Iraq was at war with Iran
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D. Political geography
Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to Operation
Desert Shield/Desert Storm
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D. Political geography
Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC
resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in
the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003
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D. Political geography
Democratic elections were successfully held in
January of 2005
Thousands of Shia Muslims march in Baghdad
carrying portraits of Grand Ayatollah Ali
al-Husseini al-Sistani to demand an elected
government