NASWA - Northern Africa and Southwestern Asia Module Overview

North Africa and Southwest Asia

North Africa and Southwest Asia

Introduction

Spanning portions of two continents, North Africa and Southwest Asia are studied together as a region because of the physical and cultural traits shared by the countries in these regions. Once past the Mediterranean coastline, the climate becomes dry or arid and gives the area its vast deserts. The plentiful oil reserves fuel much of the world's activities and generate the wealth of the upper class. The Islamic calls to worship can be heard throughout most of the region several times a day. A notable exception is in the Jewish state of Israel, where Judaism is the predominant religion. The region's natural resources, sites of religious importance, and frequent conflict cause it to be of great interest to the world.

 

Essential Questions

  • How does climate and the availability of fresh water impact human settlement patterns?
  • How has religion influenced the development of countries and laws?  
  • How have resources and religion influenced modern conflicts?

 

Key Terms

  • African Transition Zone – an imaginary division of North Africa from the rest of Africa based on climatic and cultural dynamics.
  • Animism – the worldview that animals, plants, and inanimate objects possess a spiritual essence.
  • Aquifer – is a body of saturated rock through which water can easily move. They include permeable or porous rock types such as sandstone, conglomerate, fractured limestone, and unconsolidated sand and gravel.
  • Basin – A depression in the Earth's surface. A river basin is a river drainage where the major river and its tributaries drain the land as they flow toward the mouth of the river.
  • Christianity – the religion of Christians. A monotheistic religion founded on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
  • Fossil water – is underground water that has been geologically sealed off from its source.
  • Infrastructure – the physical buildings, roads, and utilities of a country.
  • Islam – the religion of Muslims. A monotheistic religion revealed by the prophet Muhammad.
  • Judaism – the religion of Jews. A monotheistic religion of which Abraham was the patriarch.
  • Maghreb – the Arabic name for the NW part of Africa. The area includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
  • Middle East - is a term used to indicate a geographically and culturally similar region located primarily in western Asia and Northern Africa.
  • Mineral – a naturally occurring inorganic element such as: salt, gold, silver.
  • Muslim – a follower of the religion of Islam.
  • Oasis – a place where water is found in a desert.
  • Peninsula - is a piece of land which extends from a larger body of land and is bordered mainly by water.  
  • Quanats – a tunnel system used to extract water.
  • Rain shadow effect – the effect of mountain ranges on precipitation patterns.
  • Strait – a narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water.
  • Subsistence lifestyle – a lifestyle of little to no excess. A lifestyle in which people manage to have enough to survive and not much else.

 

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