Georgia's Exploring Our World: Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern and Eastern Asia © 2012Chapter 6: Southwest Asia TodayChapter OverviewsMany countries in Southwest Asia are rich in oil and natural gas resources. They supply much of the energy for countries around the world. Countries along the eastern Mediterranean Sea do not have much oil. Instead, they have mild climates and fertile lands. Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories have areas of fertile coastal plains that support agriculture. Most people live in these areas. In the Arabian Peninsula, oil exports are important to the economy. Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf countries have used profits from oil exports to better the lives of their citizens. Governments of oil-producing countries are also building new industries to ensure their economies remain strong when oil runs out. Some nearby countries also endure ongoing disagreements that have resulted in violence. In Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, conflict and war have forced a change in governments. As a result of wars with the United States and other countries, Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling to build stable democracies. Iran's Muslim leadership, however, refuses Western influence. Differences in the region also are evident in the economy. Iraq and Iran's major exports are oil and textiles; Afghanistan's are wool and handmade carpets. |  |
