GEOG101: World Regional Geography

7a. Describe the physical geography of North Africa and Southwest Asia, including the Sahel or African Transition Zone, and factors that have led to desertification in some areas

• What role does the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) play in the position of the African Transition Zone?
• Why are colonial political borders in conflict with the seasonal shifts in the African Transition Zone?
  

Also known as the Sahel, the African Transition Zone is a climate phenomenon that shifts depending on the seasons. It is where the subtropical high-pressure belt, which contributes to the arid conditions of the Sahara Desert, meets the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone), an equatorial low-pressure zone that makes the tropics wet. Because the ITCZ shifts seasonally, the location of the African Transition Zone also changes. In the summer, it shifts north, making the conditions wetter. In the winter, it shifts south, making the conditions drier.
 
This pattern varies when the high and low-pressure belts stall for other environmental reasons, which can periodically leave the Sahel with no moisture.
 
For thousands of years, the people who lived in the Sahel followed the moisture, migrating north in the summer and south in the winter, unencumbered by political borders. When the colonial powers imposed political boundaries on the landscape, they curtailed the movement of these nomads and, in some cases, divided them. Many of the conflicts ongoing in the African Transition Zone can be traced to this clash between traditional practices and interference from outside powers.
 
To review, see North Africa and Southwest Asia's Key Geographic Features and Physical Geography of the Middle East and North Africa.
 

7b. Relate the distribution of oil and mineral resources in North Africa and Southwest Asia to the concepts of inequality and globalization

• Where are the mineral and oil resources of North Africa and Southwest Asia found?
• How have these resources affected globalization and inequality in the region?
  

The prevalence of arid climates throughout North Africa and Southwest Asia means water is a valuable resource to the people who live in this realm. By contrast, the region's oil, natural gas, and mineral resources make it indispensable to other regions.
 
The Arabian Peninsula's oil fields are in the east and northeast, intersecting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Oman, and Iraq. There are oil fields to the south of Yemen, but the ongoing war has left its fossil fuel deposits untapped. Mineral resources such as copper, gold, and iron ore are found along the west side of the Arabian Peninsula, including the Hijaz and Asir Mountains. In North Africa, we see oil fields in Egypt, Libya, and Algeria. Libya has the largest amount of crude oil reserves.
 
Oil and gas revenues are vital to the economies of the countries on the Arabian Peninsula, with the exception of Yemen due to its ongoing civil war. The people of the Arabian Peninsula enjoy a high standard of living. For example, Kuwait uses its substantial oil revenues to provide free education and medical care to its small population. In addition, the thriving oil and gas economies of these countries attract migrants and investment from all over the world. Saudi Arabia, for example, has millions of foreign workers in the petroleum industry.
 
The influx of foreign workers and investment has influenced some countries' efforts at globalization policies. To varying degrees, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman have sought to balance their Arab traditions with modernization, such as building shopping malls and resorts, improving infrastructure, and allowing American franchises. Some of these countries are diversifying their economies through global banking opportunities, free-trade zones, tourism, and, in the case of Qatar, welcoming a U.S. military installation.
 
The constant demand for fossil fuels has rendered many countries in North Africa and Southwest Asia vulnerable to foreign control and influence. The uneven distribution of oil resources has led to inequalities and wealth gaps within and between countries. Ethnic inequalities have emerged among the groups who reside in these countries.
 
To review, see North Africa and Southwest Asia's Key Geographic Features, Oil Resources in North Africa and Southwest Asia, and Saudi Arabia's Major Oil and Gas Infrastructure.
 

7c. Explain how the position of North Africa and Southwest Asia as a major crossroads promoted diversity in the human landscape

• Describe how the position of North Africa and Southwest Asia as a major crossroads promoted diversity in the human landscape.
  

The people who live in North Africa and Southwest Asia have adapted to the region's hot and arid climate. Buildings in urban centers typically feature high roofs and ceilings to allow the hot air to rise and keep the living area cooler. Shaded courtyards promote airflow in the surrounding rooms and maintain maximum privacy. The distinctive dress reflects the physical landscape. Men wear long, flowing robes and cotton headdresses to shield themselves from the sand and sun. Women adorn similar traditional clothing, which also reflects their modesty and religious values.
 
Some cultural groups migrate to cooler areas during the hottest parts of the year. For example, the Berbers, an indigenous group in North Africa, traveled each season to search for water, land, and shelter as they herd their livestock. However, the lives of these pastoral nomads have changed significantly in recent years. Governments have encouraged these traditional groups to practice settled agriculture. Colonial and international boundaries have destroyed or cut off many of their traditional migratory paths.
 
To review, see North Africa and Southwest Asia's Key Geographic Features, Silk Road Trade, Silk Routes in Central Asia and Afghanistan, and Religion in North Africa and Southwest Asia.
 

7d. Describe the pattern of colonization in North Africa and Southwest Asia and how it has affected the human landscape, including its pattern of urbanization

• What types of colonialism did the peoples of North Africa and Southwest Asia practice before World War I?
• How did European colonialism affect the region after World War I?
  

Arab military forces spread Islam across the region after Muhammad died in 632. The Islamic Empire (632–1258) lasted nearly 600 years and stretched from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) across North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and into Pakistan. Its capital moved from Medina, the Islamic holy city in today's Saudi Arabia, to Damascus (today's capital of Syria), and finally to Baghdad (today's capital of Iran).
 
The Ottoman Empire (1299–1922), which originated in modern-day Turkey, controlled much of North Africa and coastal Southwest Asia until Europe's allied powers carved up its territories following World War
 
For example, the European diplomats who attended the Congress of Vienna in 1815 gave France a mandate to control Syria, Britain received a mandate to control Iraq and Palestine, and Italy would rule Libya. The Europeans paid little attention to underlying ethnic or resource issues in the regions they controlled. As in Sub-Saharan Africa, ethnic groups were divided and forced to share new territories with hostile groups. These ethnic and religious tensions remained after the countries gained independence and continue to this day.
 
To review, see Conquest in North Africa and Southwest Asia, Russian Turkestan, Morocco and Western Sahara: A Decades-Long War of Attrition, The Political Landscape, Yemen: Understanding the Conflict, and Effect of Urbanization in North Africa and Southwest Asia.
 

7e. Summarize why Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are tied to North Africa and Southwest Asia and how these religious ties have impacted the human landscape

• How are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam connected to North Africa and Southwest Asia?
• What impact have these religions had on the human landscape of the region?
  

Many call North Africa and Southwest Asia a cultural hearth since it is often considered the cradle of ancient civilizations and modern religions. The religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated in Southwest Asia. We call them the Abrahamic religions because they consider Abraham a patriarch and Moses a major prophet. All three are monotheistic – a fundamental tenet is that there is only one God. They also have similar creation stories.
 
Of course, there are major differences between these religions, such as who delivered the word of God to their followers. Jews believe Abraham established the first covenant with God. The Torah, the central Jewish text, discusses the creation of the world and the establishment of this covenant. Christianity developed from the life and teachings of Jesus, a Jewish preacher and prophet. The Bible is the central Christian text. Islam is based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. The Koran is the central Islamic text.
 
Islam is the dominant religion in North Africa and Southwest Asia. It is a strong cultural force that unifies and divides people in the region. Islam spread throughout the realm in accordance with the trade and migration of people through a geographic process we call spatial diffusion.
 
Islam was divided between Sunni and Shia Muslim groups after Muhammad's death (632 AD) since he did not specify who should continue his work. Those who followed Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, became Shia Muslims. Those who followed Abu Bakr, Muhammad's close companion, became Sunni Muslims. This division determines the role the Imam (the spiritual leader) plays. For Shia Muslims, the Imam has divine knowledge and authority and must be from the lineage of Muhammad. For Sunni Muslims, the Imam leads them in worship, provides religious guidance, and serves as a community leader.
 
To review, see Religion in North Africa and Southwest Asia, Semitic Religions, Geography of Conflict: Searching for Peace in the Middle East, Who are Yemen's Houthis?, Religious Conflict in North Africa and Southwest Asia, Islamic Faith and Tradition, and Human Rights for Women.
 

7f. Identify factors that have contributed to border disputes and violent conflicts in North Africa and Southwest Asia and how these barriers have impeded development

• What role did colonialism and the physical environment play in the border disputes and conflicts of modern North Africa and Southwest Asia?
• How have these conflicts impeded development in the region?
  

Today's political map of North Africa and Southwest Asia continues to reflect the arbitrary boundaries the European colonists created during the past century. This legacy, in addition to religious tensions, has made the region prone to political instability, conflict, and violence.
 
Geography has restricted development and transit in North Africa and Southwest Asia due to several strategic choke points – narrow passages, such as canals, valleys, or bridges, that allow travelers and economic commerce to traverse to another region. Examples include the Suez Canal, a canal built from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Political forces have fought bitterly throughout history to control these restricted, narrow channels.
 
Many newly-formed government leaders, who had fought to gain local independence from their European colonizers, had a military rather than political background. Monarchs had secured support from local military and religious leaders. Meanwhile, the discovery of oil in the region has brought significant wealth and reignited Western interest in the region.
 
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil wars in Syria, Libya, and Yemen, the rise of al Qaeda and ISIS, and the Arab Spring pro-democracy movement of 2011 represent just some of the conflicts and tensions that have confounded this region. They point to an intersection of religious values, political instability, and a battle for control over territory and resources.
 
To review, see Physical Geography of the Middle East and North Africa, The Political Landscape, Yemen: Understanding the Conflict, Who are Yemen's Houthis?, Religious Conflict in North Africa and Southwest Asia, Islamic Faith and Tradition, and Human Rights for Women.
 

Unit 7 Vocabulary

This vocabulary list includes terms listed above that students need to know to successfully complete the final exam for the course.

• Abrahamic religions
• Abu Bakr
• Ali
• al Qaeda
• Arabian Peninsula
• Arab Spring
• Asir Mountains
• Berbers
• Bible
• choke point
• Christianity
• Congress of Vienna
• fossil fuel
• Gulf of Oman
• Hijaz Mountains
• Intertropical Convergence Zone
• ISIS
• Islam
• Islamic Empire
• Judaism
• Koran
• Medina
• monotheism
• Muhammad
• Ottoman Empire
• pastoral nomad
• Persian Gulf
• petroleum industry
• Shia
• spatial diffusion
• Strait of Hormuz
• Suez Canal
• Sunni
• Torah