West Asia Geography

Geography of West Asia

• Arabic is a common language in all West Asian countries.
• The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded by the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean.
• Mecca and Medina are considered two holy cities of Islam, and are located in the Arabian Peninsula.
• Rub' al Khali is a vast desert located in the Arabian Peninsula, also called the "Empty Quarter".
• Falaj is the traditional irrigation system used in Oman.
• The Arabian Peninsula is located in Southwest Asia.
• It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west, the Arabian Gulf to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the south.
• The peninsula consists of desert landscapes, mountain ranges, and coastal plains.
• Two significant economic activities in Oman in the past were fishing and date farming.
• The Arabian Peninsula features vast deserts like the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) and the Nafud Desert.
• It also includes mountain ranges, such as the Hijaz Mountains and the Oman Mountains.
• Coastal plains are located along the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean.
• Oases support agriculture in the peninsula.
• Seasonal rivers and wadis are also present.
• Geography significantly shaped the economy of Oman and the UAE.
• Deserts limited agriculture, leading to reliance on oasis farming.
• Coastal areas supported fishing and pearl diving as major industries.
• Harsh desert conditions resulted in a nomadic lifestyle with camel herding and trade.
• The location of Oman and the UAE on ancient trade routes made them centers for maritime trade.

Geography of North Africa

• The Atlas Mountains stretch from the Southwest up into Algeria to the Northwest near the Mediterranean Sea.
• The ancient city of Carthage was located in modern-day Tunisia.
• The Nile River flows through Sudan, where the White Nile and Blue Nile meet near Khartoum.
• The Sahara Desert stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile Valley in the east.
• The major dam built in the 1960s at Aswan created Lake Nasser.
• The Nile Valley is one of North Africa's most fertile areas.
• Farming is supported by irrigation from the Nile River, silt deposits, and modern dams like the Aswan High Dam.
• Main crops include wheat, cotton, and sugarcane.
• Timbuktu and Djenné were important cities in North Africa as centers of trade, learning, and Islamic scholarship.
• Timbuktu was known for its gold and salt trade.
• Djenné had great Islamic architecture, including the famous mud-brick mosque.
• Caravan trade routes in North and West Africa were crucial for economic and cultural exchange.
• These routes connected West Africa to North Africa and the Middle East.
• Traded goods included gold, salt, ivory, and textiles.
• Trade led to the spread of Islam and knowledge across Africa.
• Cities such as Timbuktu and Gao became centers of commerce and learning.
• Camels, known as the "ships of the desert," were used for transportation.