SOUTHWEST ASIA
Southwest Asia is the westernmost subregion of Asia. It can also be called West Asia but I am more familiar with the first term so it will be used in this class. The region is also called Middle East, with the exclusion of Egypt since it is a part of the subregion North Africa. It is the region with the most number of countries in Asia. Member countries include: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. For this lesson, we will include Afghanistan in the region since we did not include it in South Asia. Having a hard time visualizing them in a map? Below is a map of the region.
Southwest Asia is located south of Eastern Europe. As you can see above, it is surrounded by many bodies of water, including Aegean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the natural bodies of water, landforms also serve as natural boundaries to other regions. The Caucasus Mountains separate the region from Europe while the Isthmus of Suez separate Africa and Southwest Asia.
As of climate, Southwest Asia is primarily arid and semi-arid, and is subjected to drought. But it also contains forests and fertile valleys. The region consists of grasslands, rangelands, deserts, and mountains. Water shortages are main concerns in the region. Major rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates, are sources of irrigation for the agriculture.
The region also contains large areas of mountainous terrain. There are the Pontus Mountains and the Taurus Mountains in Turkey sandwiching the Anatolian Plateau. There are also the Zagros Mountains in Iran. The Dead Sea, however, is the lowest point on the surface of the Earth. Rub' Al Khali, one of the world's largest sand deserts, occupies the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula. You can see these landforms in the physical map below. Given the natural environment of the region, how could the wizarding world looks like?
As of climate, Southwest Asia is primarily arid and semi-arid, and is subjected to drought. But it also contains forests and fertile valleys. The region consists of grasslands, rangelands, deserts, and mountains. Water shortages are main concerns in the region. Major rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates, are sources of irrigation for the agriculture.
The region also contains large areas of mountainous terrain. There are the Pontus Mountains and the Taurus Mountains in Turkey sandwiching the Anatolian Plateau. There are also the Zagros Mountains in Iran. The Dead Sea, however, is the lowest point on the surface of the Earth. Rub' Al Khali, one of the world's largest sand deserts, occupies the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula. You can see these landforms in the physical map below. Given the natural environment of the region, how could the wizarding world looks like?
WIZARDING SOUTHWEST ASIA
With the different environment of the region, mainly arid and semi arid climate, different magical creatures and plants can also be found. One is the rue. Rue, also known as common rue, is a kind of evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region, Macronesia, and Southwest Asia. It has a distinctive bitter taste. Its use in the wizarding world is crucial as it has healing properties and is used in wizarding remedies. For example, the essence of rue is used to recover after poisoning, treatment of mad dog bites, and Felix Felicis.
Spinach is another one plant species native to Southwest Asia. It is also native to Central Asia, if it was not mentioned there. Spinach is an edible flowering plant and vegetable. And its flavor is a known flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. We also have heard of Neville Longbottom's uncle named Algie who got a Mimbulus Mimbletonia from Assyria. Assyria was a region in the Middle East that no longer bears that name. Below is a picture of the Mimbulus Mimbletonia that is found in the region. Look at its characteristics and you will know that it can survive the arid and semi arid climate of the region.
Spinach is another one plant species native to Southwest Asia. It is also native to Central Asia, if it was not mentioned there. Spinach is an edible flowering plant and vegetable. And its flavor is a known flavor of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. We also have heard of Neville Longbottom's uncle named Algie who got a Mimbulus Mimbletonia from Assyria. Assyria was a region in the Middle East that no longer bears that name. Below is a picture of the Mimbulus Mimbletonia that is found in the region. Look at its characteristics and you will know that it can survive the arid and semi arid climate of the region.
The list of magical plant species found in the region is not ending. There are also borage in the region. It is a herb native to the Mediterranean region, as well as Asia Minor or Turkey, Europe, North Africa, and South America. Due to its magical properties, it was used in potion making. Blackthorn tree is also native to the region, as well as in Europe and North Africa. It is used as a wand tree in wandlore. In addition, the sycamore and the silver lime trees, both wand trees, are also native to the area.
For magical creatures, werewolves can be seen in Armenia. Gilderoy Lockhart once claimed that he has saved a village there from werewolves but it turned out that it was an ugly old Armenian warlock that did the deed.
Same with the majority of the countries in Asia, Quidditch never caught on Iran due to people's preference for flying carpets. Somehow, Quidditch still survives in other countries, such as in Syria. The Syrian National Quidditch Team won the Quidditch World Cup in 1974, triumphing over the Malagasy team in a match marked by the audience revealing their Dissimulators to be transfigured wands at one point in protest of the wand ban enacted by Royston Idlewind.
Other countries with Quidditch teams are Armenia and Turkey. Armenia has its Junior Quidditch Team that took on the English Under-17s side in 1999. Meanwhile, the Turkish National Quidditch Team had a record of being beaten by the English National Quidditch Team in 1981 with a good performance by the English beater, Ludo Bagman.
Information regarding the region focuses on the magical creatures and plants species and the countries' Quidditch teams and performances. Of course, the preference for flying carpets is a constant thing in the continent. There is still much to know regarding wizarding life in other parts of the world. We could just assume things from here on. I think there is the mastery of sand and earth spells in this part of the world. After all, they have the deserts and arid climate to motivate them in the field.
For magical creatures, werewolves can be seen in Armenia. Gilderoy Lockhart once claimed that he has saved a village there from werewolves but it turned out that it was an ugly old Armenian warlock that did the deed.
Same with the majority of the countries in Asia, Quidditch never caught on Iran due to people's preference for flying carpets. Somehow, Quidditch still survives in other countries, such as in Syria. The Syrian National Quidditch Team won the Quidditch World Cup in 1974, triumphing over the Malagasy team in a match marked by the audience revealing their Dissimulators to be transfigured wands at one point in protest of the wand ban enacted by Royston Idlewind.
Other countries with Quidditch teams are Armenia and Turkey. Armenia has its Junior Quidditch Team that took on the English Under-17s side in 1999. Meanwhile, the Turkish National Quidditch Team had a record of being beaten by the English National Quidditch Team in 1981 with a good performance by the English beater, Ludo Bagman.
Information regarding the region focuses on the magical creatures and plants species and the countries' Quidditch teams and performances. Of course, the preference for flying carpets is a constant thing in the continent. There is still much to know regarding wizarding life in other parts of the world. We could just assume things from here on. I think there is the mastery of sand and earth spells in this part of the world. After all, they have the deserts and arid climate to motivate them in the field.
REFERENCES:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Asia
- http://siciliahistory7asia1.wikispaces.com/file/view/middle-east.jpg/57292208/middle-east.jpg
- http://jb-hdnp.org/Sarver/Maps/WC/wc15_physgeoswasiam.jpg
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Rue
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Iran
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Syria
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Spinach
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Mimbulus_Mimbletonia?file=Mimblus.PNG
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Assyria
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Armenia
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Borage
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Blackthorn
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Sycamore
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Silver_lime
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Armenian_Junior_Nationals_Quidditch_team
- http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Turkish_National_Quidditch_team