A land ruled by religion and petroleum...
We begin our journey this year in Southwest Asia (Middle East). It is a beautiful land that lies between three continents. You will find African, Asian, and European influences here. Abraham, the forefather of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is from this land, and therefore the land has been fought over for thousands of years. Religion influences everything in this region including the governments and economics. The geography is harsh, and lack of water has plagued the region, but also influenced change and growth in farming practices and water conservation. The land is rich in petroleum, which has brought great wealth to the area, but it is a nonrenewable resource, and the people must diversify their economies if they hope to maintain their wealth in the future.