World Regions Chapters 7 and 8

World Regions Exam Review

Plateaus

A large, flat, elevated area of land that rises sharply above the surrounding land, often formed by volcanic activity, crust uplift, or erosion

Escarpments

A steep slope or cliff that separates two areas of different elevations, usually formed by faulting or erosion

Continental Shelf

Ss the shallow, submerged part of a continent that lies under the ocean. It extends from the coastline out to the continental slope, where the ocean floor drops off more steeply

Africa has the narrowest

Demographic Transition Line

Used as a method of examining population growth stages

5 stages

Caliph

Successor of Mohammad

Sunni (prominent)

A group of Muslims who believe that Abu should be the successor of Mohammad

86% of the Muslim population follow this

(Shia) Shi’ite

A group of Muslims who believe that Ali should be the successor of Mohammad

Maghreb

“Isle of the West”

5 countries in Africa

Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya

Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert

Aswan High Dam

In Egypt, built across the Nile

1970

Constructed to control the annual flooding of the Nile, provide water storage for irrigation, and generate hydroelectric power

The Golan Heights

Rocky plateau in south-western Syria

Strategic military high ground.

Key water resources (Jordan River, Sea of Galilee).

Source of ongoing Israel-Syria tensions.

Theocentric

God is the central aspect of existence

Sinai Peninsula

Desert region of Egypt, borders Israel and the Red Sea

Captured by Israel in 1967, returned to Egypt in 1979 peace treaty

Islamic Taliban Movement

Islamist militant group that emerged in Afghanistan

Founded by Mullah Omar in the Pashtun regions of Afghanistan.

To establish an Islamic emirate governed by a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

Took control of Afghanistan in 1996, ruling until 2001, then regained power in 2021 after the U.S. withdrawal.

Known for oppression of women, destruction of cultural heritage, and fighting against foreign influence.

Atatürk (Mustafa Kemal)

The founder of modern Turkey

Introduced secularism and abolished the Ottoman sultanate

Adopted western-style laws, clothing, and education systems

Replaced Arabic script with the Latin Alphabet

Promoted women’s rights, including the right to vote

Ankara is the new capital in Turkey to symbolize a fresh start

Rift Valley

Formed when HUGE parallel cracks/faults appear in the Earth’s crust. Area between faults sinks or is pushed down, forming a linear valley

6000 miles long in Eastern Africa

Lake Nasser

Created by the Aswan High Dam

Artificial lakes

Stores floodwaters of the Nile

Provides water for irrigation.

Supports hydroelectric power generation.

The Aral Sea

Inland lake between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Once the 4th largest lake in the world.

Shrunk since the 1960s due to Soviet river diversions.

Caused ecological disaster and economic collapse.

Small parts are being restored, but most is now desert

Epidemic

Sudden outbreak at local, regional scale

Ebola, Smallpox

Pandemic

Worldwide spread

COVID, Cholera, HIV/AIDS

Darfur

Conflict-ridden region in western Sudan

Hindu Kush (Afghanistan)

Mountains that run through the center - creating natural barriers and isolated regions

Atlas Mountains

Series of mountain ranges in Northwestern Africa

Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia

Separate the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea

Dasht-e Kavir

Great Salt Desert

Central Iran – arid, salty desert

Dasht-e Lut

Southeastern Iran – one of the hottest and driest places on earth

Bekaa Valley

• A fertile valley in Lebanon.

• Located between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains.

• Known for agriculture (fruits, vegetables, wine).

• Strategic location for trade and military importance.

• Home to important historical sites like Baalbek

Polisario Front

Liberation movement seeking independence for Western Sahara.

Founded in 1973 by the Sahrawi people (native to Western Sahara).

Fights for the establishment of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

Has been in conflict with Morocco, which controls most of Western Sahara.

Initially supported by Algeria, and operates from refugee camps in Algeria.

UN recognition of the region's status is disputed; many countries and the African Union recognize SADR.

Arab Spring

Wave of pro-democracy uprisings starting in Tunisa

Spread to Libya and Egypt

Led to the fall of dictators, civil wars

Tunisia had more peaceful transitions

Suez Canal

Egypt

Allows ships to travel between Europe and Asia without going around Africa.

Critical international trade route for oil, goods, and shipping.

Strategic geopolitical importance for Egypt and the world.

Sahara

North

Covers large parts of Algeria, Libya, and Western Sahara

World’s largest hot desert

Acts as a natural barrier to the south

Kalahari

South

Spans Botswana, Namibia, and parts of South Africa.

Semi-arid with seasonal rains and large salt pans.

Known for its unique wildlife and indigenous Bushmen (San people).

Namib

Southwest

Home to some of the world’s tallest sand dunes.

Known for its extreme dryness and foggy coastline.

Name 5 obstacles in the Arab / Israeli peace process

Territorial Disputes

Jerusalem

Refugees

Security Concerns

Political Fragmentation

Zagros

Western Iran, form a natural border with Iraq

Elburz Mountains

Northern Iran, near the Caspian Sea

Hamas

Sunni Islamist group controlling the Gaza Strip

HAMAS CONTROLS GAZA STRIP

Originated as a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood

Considered a terrorist organization by the US and EU

Hezbollah

Shi'a Muslim political and militant group.

Based in Lebanon (formed in the 1980s).

Backed by Iran and Syria.

Fights against Israel and has fought in Syria’s civil war.

Considered a terrorist group by the U.S., EU, and others, but also part of Lebanon’s government.

Fatah

Secular Palestinian political party

Controls the Palestinian Authority in the WEST BANK

River of Hamas

Bosphorus

A narrow strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

Divides Istanbul into European and Asian sides.

Strategic international waterway for trade and military movement.

The Dardanelles

A narrow strait connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

Historic route for trade and military access to the Black Sea.

Site of the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I.