The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World – the sequel to Prisoners of Geography

PFS Book Club ---18th May Today we reviewed book called “Power of Geography” by Tim Marshall. We reviewed book called prisoners of geography sometimes back. Today’s reviewed book is sequel of the same. After 2nd world war, Power tussle happened between USA and Russia. Post 1990, it was unipolar world when USA power got unchallenged. Now we are moving back to what was norm of human history, an age of multiple power rivalries. In this book author has covered Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UK, Greece, Turkey, Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and space. Australia ---It became island 35 million years ago after it broke off from antartica and drifted northwards. It is currently on a collision course with Indonesia and in 700 million years impact will happen. 70% of Australia is unhabitable. 50% of Australia population stay in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. They had a very strict white Australia policy, any immigrant if entering Australia has to write out a dictation and sign in presence of the officer a passage of fifty words in length in any European language directed by the officer. War came to Australia as well and Japanese air force attached them during second world war. Since then, Australia relationship with USA is similar to British and established marine base at Darwin. They fear China and to counter them keep making policies. Iran—Kurds form 10% of population. Most Iranians live in urban areas which are built on mountain slopes. Iran keeps balance in middle east by supporting Shia Houthi faction against Saudi backed Sunni forces. In Iraq they now find Shia dominated govt. In Damascus it dominates president Assad who is from Alawite community an offshoot of shiai Islam. Iran is highly educated and sophisticated country with borders not drawn by Europeans. They have chance of becoming a genuine democracy than most other countries in neighborhood. Saudi Arabia ---This country is named after family member. Century ago, population was 2 million which is 34 million now. Saudi is predominantly dominated by Sunni Muslim but have substantial Shia Muslims in easter province. Most Saudis live in western side around mecca, medina and Jeddah. Riyadh is very strict in terms of religion practice. As the Saud family grown in importance, they forged a strategic relationship with Wahhabi clan. Bargain was Sauds will do politics but the religious aspects of politics and society were the Wahhabis’ domain. United Kingdom---Britain is a place that most of the history was cold, windswept and backward and yet became the center of one of the world’s greatest empires, partially due to its geography and access to the oceans.UK was attached by romans, Vikings and Normans. Due to this accent are so different in parts of UK. What does disturb UK sleep is the threat of mass casualty terrorism, nuclear and cyber threats and a restless Scotland. If Scotland leaves, the damage to the UK’s international standing would be worse than caused by it leaving the EU. Greece / Turkey ---The discovery of undersea gas fields has merged old and new conflicts with Greece and Turkey at their heart and numerous countries being dragged in. Athens is capital of a country that includes more than 6000 island. Nowhere in Greece is more than 100 km from water. Many great philosophers and learned people like hippodamus, Aristotle, Hippocrates,Pythagoras and Hypatia are from Greece. And estimate 1.5 lakh English words derive from Greek.Treaty of Lausame in 1923 agreed a compulsory population exchange between Greece and turkey. Turkey captured half of cypress. Original Turks came from Altain mountains in Mongolia. The rise of the increasingly industrialized west European nations states left the ottomans unable to compete technologically and Britain and France began to push them put of the middle east. More than 505 of Turkey population live in Istanbul area. Sahel region --- Much of the Sahel fell in French control-what is now roughly equivalent to Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast. The poorest region in the world is actually rich in terms of natural resources. There is uranium, oil and phosphate in Niger, iron ore and copper in Mauritania, oil and uranium in Chad and gold in Burkina Faso & Mali. China will attempt to maintain its control of a majority of the deposits. It has more processing facilities than anyone else and can use the material to make and sell products to other countries. Ethiopia --- Many things come from Ethiopia—for example humans. National museum of Ethiopia poster says “Lucy Welcomes you home”. Water defines Ethiopia’s geopolitical position and importance. It has attracted the attention of Turkey, China, gulf states and USA who see the potential advantages for trade, as well as military and economic strategies. They have built Grand Ethiopia dam on Blue Nile which will deed most of the country’s energy needs and will reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal which has depleted forests. Disadvantage of Ethiopia is that they don’t have any coast and dependent on Djibouti and Eritrea, Eritrea was part of Ethiopia and got freedom in 1974. China is a major player in this country. Blue Nile reaches the Sudanese capital Khartoum, it merges with white Nile and becomes the Nile which flows on to Egypt. Construction of dam is making Egypt nervous as 95% of Egypt population live along the rivers bank and delta. Spain –One of the oldest European states but always struggled to stay together. Its is a young democracy and have very low population density. In Spain Madrid, Basque and Catalonia ensured that different regions certain strong cultural and linguistic identities. Such are the complexities of differences that Spanish national anthem does not have lyrics. Moors (Muslims from north Africa) came to Spain in 7th century through state of Gibraltar. Muslim scholars brought knowledge and Arabic in particular left its mark on Spain. Many of the Spanish words are taken from Arabic. Spain monarchs believed they had religious duty to convert as many people as possible not just the Spain but beyond. And one of the reasons of their movement to south America. 1500 to 1681 was Spain’s golden age marked b y vast sums of money coming from south America. Latin Americans started losing trust over Spain and south America was free of Spain in 1826 with Mexico being last country to declare independence. After franco death democracy became more strengthened and joined NATO in 1982, 1986 EU and adopted euro in 1999. Spain wanted Gibraltar and in 2002 referendum was done where 99% wanted to stay with UK. Space I will cover in next book called future of geography.

The Power of Geography took time and effort but was it ever worth it. It explores the history, struggles and cultures of the major regions of the world by studying the maps and looking at the regional geography while reading. Tim Marshall is British, obviously English, and some assumptions about western rights to world dominance came through slightly, and i found his intellectual commitment to population control offensive and Malthusian, ( he is clearly protestant and going to hell ) but the insights his work provided overall were a step in the direction of world peace and cooperation. We do not often reflect on how Geography shapes people, culture, nations, the events of the past and the present and we should, because it is key to understanding the future. I overall Loved this book and would recommend it... Just Eat the meat, and spit out the bones!