Oil in the Middle East

When we think of oil, we not only think of what it powers, but more important, where it comes from. The middle east has a vast variety of economy and wealth, but the wealth they have comes from the oil business. While the map in the textbook is political and the one online is geographical, they both display the same countries. Most of the major oil-producing areas are on the water, with the exception of Iraq. Location on the water has always been a prime situation since early colonies, for there is a higher source of trade. The oil-producing companies in the middle east have formed relationships with the United States and countries all around the world based on their possession of this crucial resource. As sean noted, it easier to drill oil on low land areas. But their success is due to the accesability of trading with foreign areas. Also, Tim has mentioned that the middle east has nothing without oil. That's true, the middle east is defined by their access to oil and has almost no wealth without it. Countries must work to maintain a relationship with them in order to ensure a steady source of oil.