This document provides an overview of Central and Southwest Asia across 7 sections: 1) Historical Overview discusses early civilizations and the spread of religions in the region. 2) Physical Characteristics describes the mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts. 3) Climates notes the prevalence of arid and semiarid conditions. 4) Ecosystems outlines the desert, grassland and chaparral environments. 5) People and Cultures discusses nomadic herders and the role of mosques and religious sites. 6) Economics, Technology and Environment reviews farming, herding, oil/gas extraction and infrastructure. 7) Database provides brief economic profiles and trade data for 4 countries.