The realm is a dry world because water is scarce and there is no vegetation cover, apart from a few oases. In areas that are not dry, people grow crops for their own consumption and for commercial purposes. On the contrary, in this area people have come up with alternative ways of sustaining themselves. This area bears the characteristics of a typical Arab world evidenced by dry lands and nomadic lifestyles.
Water is the major problem in this region, and this explains why there is high concentration of human population in areas that lie next to water catchments areas. Farming is only practiced in areas that are along water bodies, such as along the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the residents of this area are aware that if they use the little water that is available for commercial farming it would not be enough to sustain them. Their exposure to hardships has enlightened them, and thus they have learned to utilize the water catchments areas by digging channels that direct water from the water bodies into their gardens (DeBlij & Muller, 2010).
Water becomes a problem when people have to cover long distances to get it as evidenced in NASWA. Besides that, water has become the cause of conflicts between the people of this region and their neighbors. The climate in this region is characterized by high temperatures, which is not favorable for crops farming. The temperatures are also unbearable to humans and this causes people to put on clothing that shield them from the high temperatures. Camels are the only animals that can survive in this region because they can survive for many days without water. Camels are an ideal mode of transport in this region because they can to cover long distances in search of water.
Cultural Diffusion
Ancient Egyptians practiced irrigation, but with time, the technique was spread to other areas. This farming approach is still in use to this day. Perhaps this idea would not have been realized if the Egyptians had enough water. Irrigation is the most reliable source of water for crops because the rains can fail to come when the weather is not favorable. The idea of irrigation started from a very humble beginning because farmers would trap water by use of ridges, and this was enhanced into a dam that has transformed the lives of the people who live in this region.
Similarly, Islamic religion has a special place in this region and it spread from Mecca to the adjacent areas by force. The communities that are adjacent to this realm were forcibly converted into Islam through Jihad wars. In some instances, people who relocated to other areas spread Islam. Community leaders were the major targets in these invasions, and they were later used to convert their subjects.
Religion is the unifying factor in this area. Most urban centers in this region were initially places of worship, but as time moved on they were integrated with learning institutions. These centers of worship continued to grow as more people settled around them in pursuit of knowledge that could only be obtained by enrolling in the learning centers. Furthermore, as the inhabitants of this region moved to other areas they spread Arabian architecture, science, and mathematics. Besides, oil trade could have spread these ideas. This is logical because oil is the sole source of revenue in NASWA (DeBlij & Muller, 2010).
Cultures and Civilization
Early cultures were meant to bound communities together, but in today’s world, ancient cultures are being absorbed by modern cultures that have strong influence of western culture. It is also important to consider the reasons that caused early cultures to decline. The most obvious reason is that populations were increasing rapidly and thus, communities became uncontrollable. Natural disasters such as droughts and famines caused people to disintegrate in search of newer settlements. It then followed that as they settled in foreign locations, they had to adopt the host cultures. In addition, European colonialists brought new cultures into their colonies.
The decline of ancient cultures has many influences on the lifestyles that we live today. Modern culture has caused people to intermarry, which would not have been possible back then because one was expected to marry a spouse from his/her ethnic background. Likewise, early cultures influenced the major towns and cities that we see today. This is because they were first established as places of worship and trading centers to trade in items such as foodstuff and slaves.
The latest technological developments that have been achieved in this age are enhancements to ancient cultures. For instance, modern medicine is an enhancement of traditional medicine. It is therefore certain that the livelihoods of many people have improved. The current government structures are almost the same compared to ancient leadership structures because the leaders did not rule or make decisions without making consultations with their elders. In today’s governments, cabinet ministers assist political leaders.
The Most Important and Interesting City
Dubai is the capital of United Arab Emirates and is the most interesting city in NASWA. This city has lately become the hub of commerce, and this is evidenced by the many developments that are currently taking place. As far as infrastructure is concerned, Dubai is at the top of the rank. This is possible due to the wealth obtained from the sale of oil products. Additionally, the mining of oil provides adequate employment opportunities such that people from other countries are migrating to Dubai in search of employment. However, this does not go well with the locals, but then they have had to embrace the foreigners because they cannot satisfy the demand for casual labor.
Perhaps the main reason why many people pursue the job opportunities in Dubai is that they are aware the people of this city are not hostile to foreigners like in other Arab nations. There are people from all cultures ranging from Christians to Hindus and all of them are granted the freedom of worship. This makes Dubai to be the most accommodating city in the region. Deblij and Muller (2010) points out that this gesture has attracted many foreign investors in Dubai, and among the enterprises they are venturing into includes real estate and automobiles. This is because the demand for housing in Dubai is very high and on the other hand, the many ports are used to harbor goods manufactured in other countries. The political stability of Dubai has made it the most appropriate location for investment. Furthermore, the location of this city is very convenient for business people and for international trade as well.
Reference
DeBlij, H. J. & Muller, P. O. (2010). Geography – Realms, Regions, and Concepts (14th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.