Download Chapter 18: The Arabian Peninsula

Chapter 18:
The Arabian
Peninsula
Physical Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Landforms
• The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded almost
entirely by water.
• The climate of the interior is arid, or very dry,
and is unsuitable for agriculture or human
settlement.
• The extremely dry Rub’ al-Khali in the Arabian
desert is the world’s largest uninterrupted area
of sand, while the smaller, northern desert, An
Nafud, is known for its crescent-shaped dunes,
or ridges of sand formed by wind.
Rub’ al-Khali
An Nafud
Physical Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Water Systems
• The waters that surround the peninsula are
vital to the economy.
• The Red Sea links the Suez Canal to the Gulf
of Aden, allowing the transportation of goods
between Europe and Asia.
• The Persian Gulf serves the international
shipping needs of the oil-producing countries on
the eastern side of the peninsula.
• Rapidly growing populations are using up the
already scarce sources of freshwater.
Physical Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Climate, Biomes, & Resources
• The dry heat of the desert areas contrasts with
extreme humidity of the coastal regions.
• Seasonal winds bring heavy rains like the
monsoon, or hot, suffocating winds like the
simooms.
• The Red Sea is a unique aquatic biome whose
marine life can endure extreme heat and
salinity.
• The Arabian deserts are estimated to contain
at least 25 percent of the world’s oil reserves.
Ch. 18 Reflection Question #1
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one
of the world’s most important
chokepoints. Why do you believe this
may be true?
Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
History & Government
• Religion, ethnicity, and shared culture define the
region, with most people being ethnic Arabs who
practice Islam.
• For centuries, tribal groups based on family
relationships, or sheikdoms, controlled specific areas
of the subregion, and their influence continues.
• The majority of governments in the area are
monarchies, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar
being absolute monarchies.
Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Population Patterns
• The dry, desert climate causes most people to
live along the coasts of the Persian Gulf and
Red Sea.
• Migration of workers to oil and construction
jobs has altered the once exclusively Arab
population.
• In the interior of Saudi Arabia lies Makkah
(Mecca), the holiest city of Islam, Madinah
(Medina), which houses the tomb of the
prophet Muhammad, and Riyadh, an important
oil refining center and the capital.
Ch. 18 Reflection Question #2
Why do you think migrant workers in
the Arabian Peninsula are treated as
second-class citizens in the countries
where they work?
Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Society & Culture Today
• Arabic is the primary language in the subregion,
with English the most common second language.
• After Muhammad’s death, conflicts arose over
who would be the rightful successor, breaking the
religion into different sects.
• Shari’ah, or Islamic law, governs every aspect of
a Muslim’s life.
• Most countries do not enforce equal rights for
women, and women have little political power.
Sharia, Islamic sharia, or Islamic law is
the basic Islamic legal system derived
from the religious precepts of Islam,
particularly the Quran and the Hadith.
Ch. 18 Reflection Question #3
Sharia, or Islamic Law-based on the
Qur’an-is common in parts of the
Arabian Peninsula. How is such a
system inconsistent with American, or
Western, values and beliefs ?
Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Economic Activities
• Oil has produced great wealth for the Arabian
Peninsula; it is one of the world’s most important
regions for oil production.
• Countries with smaller oil reserves have developed
other industries, such as banking and finance in
Bahrain, and fishing in Oman, to foster economic
growth.
• Lack of water remains the most important natural
resource issue.
People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Managing Resources
• Oil is a nonrenewable resource, yet it is the
most widely used energy source today.
• Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases,
which contribute to a rise in air temperature.
• This climate change negatively affects the
environment by decreasing the amount of rainfall
and causing a rise in sea level, threatening coastal
populations and marine ecology.
Ch. 18 Reflection Question #4
What are the risks of countries that rely
almost solely on the extraction of fossil
fuels to run their economies?
People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Human Impact
• The rapidly growing population in the
subregion is dramatically increasing the demand
on already scarce water resources.
• Political instability contributes to the problem
as corrupt and weak governments do not enact
solutions, while profiteers extract precious water
for personal gain without regard to the
environment.
• Ongoing desertification is taking a heavy toll on
vegetation, resulting in soil erosion.
People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Addressing the Issues
• Governmental subsidies to lower water costs
have resulted in high water consumption rates
despite the scant water resources in the region.
• Desalination is being used to address some
water needs, but it alone cannot satisfy demand; it
also has negative environmental impacts.
• Changes in agricultural practices are being
encouraged to meet the demand for food, thereby
decreasing the amount of water needed for
farming, dairy, and meat production.
Ch. 18 Reflection Question #5
How are Arabian countries encouraging
the overuse of fresh water?