Religion & Culture
- Southwest Asia
- North Africa
- Central Asia
What is the dominant religion in this region?
Islam
Which river has supported civilization in North Africa for thousands of years?
The Nile
What is desalination?
Process of removing salt from seawater.
What are the two most important natural resources in this region?
Oil & Natural gas
Who overthrew the Taliban and why was this done?
The US, 9/11
Why can some countries have little farmland but still be wealthy?
They may specialize in other industries:
- Tourism
- Service
- Manufacturing
- Trade
Six major rivers
Provide two examples of what petrochemicals might make:
- Fertilizers
- Medicines
- Plastics
- Paints
What is interdependence?
The dependence of two or more people or things on each other (in this case, countries!)
Why is Jerusalem important to multiple religions?
Multiple religions have their roots there and holy sites there.
(Judaism, Christianity, & Islam)
What are the two branches of the dominant religion in the region?
- Sunni
- Shia
What is an aquifer?
Underground layers of porous rock, gravel, or sand that contain water
What are petrochemicals?
Products derived from petroleum or natural gas.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?
- Facilitates the majority of global trade
- Vital for energy (oil transport)
How did Soviet control impact Central Asian countries?
- Environmental issues (nuclear testing sites)
- Political structure
- Erasing their culture
How do landforms and climate affect where people live?
They affect:
- Accessibility
- Agricultural variability
- Survival conditions
Why can't desalination be used everywhere?
Costs to build the plants and maintain them are too much for some countries
Define enclave
Territory that is culturally or ethnically different from surrounding larger cultures
What does OPEC stand for?
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
What is the main language in this region?
Arabic (Spoken by over 300 million people as a first language)
What is the new Silk Road?
A telecommunications highway (cable that follows the route of the Silk Roas)
Used for:
- Voice
- Data
- Fax
- Video transmissions
What environmental problems are caused by human activity in this region?
Pollution (from wars and in general)
Water scarcity (from rapid urbanization)
Resource mismanagement in general
Define exclave
Distinct group of people who are isolated from the main or larger part of the country.
What percentage of global oil does the Strait of Hormuz transport?