WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Although the Middle East produces a quarter of world oil supplies, it holds between two-thirds and three-quarters of all known oil reserves. For that reason the United States and the West have continued to define the region as being vitally important.

Detailed explanation-2: -Oil is used for transportation, power plants, and even as a raw material for plastics, medicines, and other goods. Oil truly makes the world go around-which is why some countries in South-west Asia have grown rich meeting the world’s ever-growing demand.

Detailed explanation-3: -Oil is very important to an economy in Southwest Asia, because the land is arid and it is difficult to farm crops. OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is a large group of countries unified for the purpose of controlling the prices and production of oil in Southwest Asia.

Detailed explanation-4: -Within Southwest Asia, however, the distribution of oil is uneven. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in this region, and it also has the most oil. In fact, approximately one quarter of the world’s proven oil reserves lie under its desert sand.