CHAPTER SIX

1
CHAPTER SIX

• North Africa and Southwest Asia

2
I. 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.

4
B. 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.

5
Human 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.

6
Human 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.

7
Human 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).

8
Human 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.

9
Human 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.

10
Human 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

11
C. 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.

12
Population 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.

13
Population 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.

14
Population 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.

15
II.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.

16
Economic 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.

17
Economic 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.

18
Economic 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.

19
Economic 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.

20
Economic 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.

21
Economic 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.

22
Economic 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.

23
Economic 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.

24
Economic 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.

25
Economic 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.

26
II.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.

27
Sociocultural 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.

28
Sociocultural 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.

29
Sociocultural 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.

30
Sociocultural 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.

31
Sociocultural 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.

32
Sociocultural 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.

33
Sociocultural 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.

34
II.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.

35
Environmental 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.

36
Environmental 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.

37
Environmental 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.

38
II.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.