Culture

1. Culture Unit 8: SW Asia

2. The Arts • Many artist and writers use religion as inspiration. • Early Civilizations created many sculptures and large buildings. • Example: • Ziggurats – large, mud-brick temples • Mosques and palaces are the best-known examples of Islamic Architecture • Islamic Arts: Geometric patterns and calligraphyare the main arts in Islamic culture because they discourage the depiction of living figures.

3. Language • Southwest Asia has many different languages. • Examples: • Turkish Languages • Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, etc. • Indo-European languages

4. Religion • Southwest Asia is the center of Three major religions • Judaism • Christianity • Islam • Sunni – believe that the rulers need only be followers of Muhammad • Shi’a– believe that the rulers need to be descendants of Muhammad. • Five Pillars – Declaration, Prayer, Charity, Fast during Ramadan, and Pilgrimage to Mecca.

5. Education and Healthcare • Education • Varies from country to country • In most countries education is required through secondary school. • Most continue education or high level of training • Literacy Rate is anywhere from 76%-98% depending on the country. • Healthcare • Some countries have government owned healthcare and others rely on private groups. • Examples: • Central Asia – Health care is lacking in the sub-regionbecause of the break up of the Soviet Union. • Arabian Peninsula – Government hospitals are not always fully staffed. Because of this, most people rely on private groups to provide health care.

6. Economy • Agriculture and Fishing: • Very small area of SW Asia is arable: able to be farmed. • Ex. Afghanistan has 12% of land that is farmable and yet 67% of the people make a living farming. • The Mediterranean Climate is best for growing crops such as: citrus fruits, grapes, olives, and dates. • The fishing industry is very important food source for this region. However, the fishing industry is on a decline because of over fishing and pollution.

7. Industry: • The main exports of the region are Petroleum and oil products. • SW Asia contains over 60% of the world’s oil. • SW Asia contains about 50% of the world’s natural gas reserve.

8. Transportation • Road systems are unevenly distributed across the region. • To improve urban-rural connections and to ease traffic congestion in urban areas many governments have built rapid-transit systems and railroads. • New Silk Roads: The “Highway” – a cable line that runs along the silk road and provides 20 countries along its path with digital circuits.

9. Communication • Television and radio is expanding throughout the region. • However, government control of media in many places limits programming. • Communication is difficult in some areas because of the vast stretches of desert. • Technologies such as wireless services and solar-powered radiophones have helped increase the use of telephone services in several areas of SW Asia.

10. Trade and interdependence • U.S. – Central Asia trade council: A signed agreement established in 2004 between the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to strengthen relations between these countries. • Eight of the regions countries, Algeria, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates make up the majority of the 11 members of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. • OPEC –Founded in 1960 – gives member countries more control over oil production and prices.