Landmarks
The cubic building at the center of Islam's most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Kaaba
The Mesopotamian valley, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is considered the cradle of civilization
Birthplace of civilization
Islam is the predominant religion, but the region is also home to significant populations of Jews and Christians
Demographics and culture
A single ruler holds absolute power, often passed down through a family.
Absolute Monarchies
Achaemenid king of Persia.
Xerxes I was a Persian king of the Achaemenid Empire from 486 to 465 BCE, son of Darius I
A famous shrine located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem
Dome of the Rock
Early societies developed advanced irrigation systems and the first forms of the alphabet in the Levant region, which is along the eastern Mediterranean coast
Innovations
The region features mountains like the Zagros and the Anatolian Plateau, as well as peninsulas such as the Arabian Peninsula and the Anatolian Peninsula (modern-day Turkey).
Geography and climate
The monarch is the head of state, but their power is limited by a constitution. Other branches of government, like a parliament, also exist.
Constitutional Monarchies
Iranian revolutionary and the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Ruhollah Khomeini
A historic mosque located in Iran that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Jame' Mosque of Isfahan
The Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians, who lived in Mesopotamia, developed some of the world's first cities and the cuneiform writing system.
First cities and writing
There is no single government in Southwest Asia; it is composed of various types of governments, including monarchies and republics.
Politics and economy
The head of state is not a monarch, and leadership is often determined through elections
Republics
who's is the current Supreme Leader of Iran.
Ali Khamenei
An ancient city in Jordan, famous for its buildings carved into rose-red cliffs.
Petra
Monotheistic religions
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all originated in this region, with a deep connection to the land and each other.
The population is diverse, with major ethnic groups including Arabs, Persians, and Kurds.
Demographics and culture
The executive leader (prime minister) is chosen by the legislature.
Parliamentary Republics
who is the former President of Iran.
Hassan Rouhani
A mountain range in Oman that is notable for its unique water channels, known as falaj.
Al-Ḥajar range
Agriculture and settlement
The Fertile Crescent was a key area for the Neolithic Revolution, where humans transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming and animal domestication, leading to settled communities.
Islam's origins are in the Arabian Peninsula, with the Prophet Muhammad beginning to spread the faith around 610 AD.
Religion and history
A system where religious leaders have significant political power.
Theocratic Republics
Founder of the Achaemenid Empire (ancient Persia).