N Africa/SW Asia:
Where do People Live?

We have been using 5 physical criteria to help us understand where people live in each geographic realm. By applying these criteria to each realm we not only learn where people live, but we also gain a better understanding of the realm's physical geography.

Student's must understand that each criterion may not apply to all realms. We learn just as much when we discover that a criterion does not apply as when it does. Look at the maps of where people live in North Africa and Southwest Asia [ecumene] [wwecumen] and then look at the maps which correspond with the criteria (see below) that we discussed in the introduction.

Which criteria help explain the location of the realm's ecumene ("the portion of the earth's land surface that is permanently settled by human beings")? Pay close attention to which criteria HELP explain where people live and to any EXCEPTIONS to the criteria.

5 Useful Criteria

1. near coasts [ecumene]
   It is clear that this criteria applies.
2. near fresh water [ecumene] [nwphys] [precip]
   Look at the major rivers and the areas of heavier rainfall.
3. temperate climates [nwclimate]
   There are few areas of this realm that have temperate "C" climates
4. flat terrain [ecumene] [nwphys] [nwelev] [precip]
   Note the population clusters in the highlands of northern Turkey, Iraq and Iran, the Zagros Mountains of western Iran, and the mountainous areas of Turkestan. Clearly the "flat terrain" criteria does not apply well to this realm.
5. fertile soil [wdarable] [nwphys] [veget] [precip]
   The river valleys are especially fertile.