sahra desert climate

Hot desert climate zone Water is political

What major desert dominates North Africa and Southwest Asia?

The Sahara Desert.

Why is water a political issue in this region?

Scarcity of water resources creates conflicts over access and control.

Where did early humans in this region first settle over 10,000 years ago?

the Fertile Crescent.

What rivers define the Fertile Crescent?

Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers.

What early developments occurred in the Fertile Crescent?

• First domestication of crops and animals,

• invention of the wheel,

• first system of mathematics,

• first cereal crops, and

• first urban civilization (Sumer).

What country is the world’s leading oil exporter?

Saudi Arabia.

What effect have oil revenues had on countries in this region?

Increased development, industrialization, infrastructure, and high incomes.

Which country has the highest GDP per capita?

Qatar.

What is the Burj Khalifa and where is it located?

The world’s tallest building, located in Dubai, UAE.

What is OPEC?

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries controlling about 40% of global oil production.

Which three major world religions originated in this region?

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

When was the first Jewish temple built?

Around 832 BCE in modern-day Israel.

Q: Where and when did Christianity originate?

A: Judea (modern Israel) around 4 BCE.

Where and when did Islam originate?

Saudi Arabia in 570 CE.

List three major empires that ruled this region.

Islamic Empire, Mongol Empire, Ottoman Empire.

What was the Sykes-Picot Treaty (1916)?

A secret agreement between the UK and France dividing Ottoman lands into spheres of influence.

Who controlled Palestine after WWI?

The United Kingdom (British Mandate).

What did UN Resolution 181 propose?

Partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem as an international city.

What is the Nakba?

The mass displacement of ~750,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

What areas has Israel occupied since 1967?

West Bank and Gaza Strip.

What issues define the modern Palestine conflict?

• Occupation, settlements,

• restricted movement, uprisings,

• wars with Hamas,

• humanitarian crises.

What are the major megacities of South Asia?

Delhi, Karachi, Mumbai.

How were the Himalayas formed?

Collision of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate 40–50 million years ago.

What are South Asia’s major rivers?

Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra.

What is a monsoon?

Seasonal wind shifts causing dry winters and wet summers.

Why is agriculture vulnerable in South Asia?

Dependence on monsoon rains and high rural population.

Where did Hinduism originate and how many followers does it have?

India; about 1 billion followers.

What is the caste system?

Social stratification rooted in Hindu scripture.

Where did Buddhism originate?

Northern India.

What religions also originated in South Asia?

Jainism and Sikhism.

When did modern humans first settle South Asia?

Around 75,000 years ago.

What empire controlled India before British colonization?

Mughal Empire, among others.

Who led India's independence movement?

Mahatma Gandhi.

When was India partitioned?

1947, creating India and Pakistan.

When did East Pakistan become Bangladesh?

1971.

Why is Kashmir disputed?

Hindu ruler chose India despite Muslim majority population.

What physical barriers isolate East Asia?

Himalayas, Gobi Desert, Altay Mountains, Yunnan Plateau.

Which country dominates East Asia demographically?

China (85% of the realm’s population).

What major rivers define China?

Huang He (Yellow River) and Chang Jiang (Yangzi).

What is the Three Gorges Dam?

The world’s largest dam, located on the Yangzi River.

What percentage of China’s population is rural?

About 35%.

What are China’s important natural resources?

Oil, gas, metals, rare earth elements (90% of global supply).

What dynasty built much of the Great Wall?

Han Dynasty.

What was the Great Leap Forward?

A failed industrial/agricultural acceleration program.

What was the Cultural Revolution?

Campaign led by Mao (1966–1976) causing social and economic turmoil.

When was the People’s Republic of China founded?

October 1, 1949.

What economic changes occurred after the 1980s?

• Move toward market-based reforms,

• foreign investment,

• rapid industrial growth.

What distinguishes the Australasian region?

Isolation and unique biogeography.

What are the three major Pacific island regions?

Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia.

What is the difference between high and low islands?

What is the difference between high and low islands?

What is biogeography?

Study of spatial distribution of plant and animal life.

What are monotremes?

Egg-laying mammals

When did Aboriginal people arrive in Australia?

40,000–50,000 years ago.

When did Polynesians arrive in New Zealand?

Around 1250 CE with the Maori

When did Europeans first arrive in Australia?

1606 (Dutch), 1770 (James Cook), 1788 (penal colony).

What challenges do Aboriginal Australians face?

• Land rights issues,

• social disadvantage.

What are Australia’s main economic activities?

Agriculture, mining, diversified modern economy.

What is the Treaty of Waitangi?

1840 agreement granting Māori land rights and British governance.

Māori population percentage?

Approximately 18%.

What is at the North Pole?

Arctic Ocean covered in sea ice.

What is at the South Pole?

The continent of Antarctica.

What is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

A 200-mile offshore zone where a country controls natural resources.